The"American
Wisdom Series"
presents
Pamphlet #5118 KC2Peter4
"Surely
Peter can't be talking about ministers! They can't be that bad!"
As we complete chapter 2 of 2nd Peter today, REMEMBER
that the subject of this chapter as declared in verse 1 is false prophets
and false teachers, the seducers of men, as well as the followers of their
pernicious ways in verse 2.
We'll get to the scoffers in the next chapter.
However, as we read the next few verses you may say to
yourself,
"Surely Peter can't be talking about ministers! They
can't be that bad!"
Oh, but he is talking about preachers and ministers, and
he will liken them even to Balaam in verse 15, a prophet of God who willingly
went against the word of God and willingly taught error so as to receive
big bucks.
Again, these false preachers and ministers are the seducers
spoken of in verses 18 and 19.
There is also much similarity in context and phrase between
this second chapter of Peter and the Book of Jude, some of which we will
draw together in parallel.
Peter now continues to "stir up" in our minds things which
we should already know about false preachers and their followers, that
they will receive their punishment at judgment (vs. 9), especially [chiefly]
those described in the next verse.
2 Pet.
2:10
But chiefly
them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise
government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak
evil of dignities.
Jude 1:8
Likewise also
these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil
of dignities.
Presumptuous means "daring".
These dudes are arrogant and presumptuous and selfwilled
and think nothing of teaching blasphemous doctrines.
That means that they know better!
It is true that those who teach false doctrines because
they are deceived and follow the traditions of men and are just plain ignorant
of the oracles of God, will be dealt with severely, for they have set themselves
as teachers and should have "taken heed" and spoken the oracles of God
only
and so warned the people.
But "Woe" unto those who KNOW BETTER and teach falsely
and lead God's children astray for self gain.
[11]
Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing
accusation against them before the Lord.
And don't argue with Satan or Satan's ministers.
Take heed to the example set forth by the archangel Michael.
Jude
1:9
Yet Michael
the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body
of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The
Lord rebuke thee.
Peter continues:
2 Pet.
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;
"Ditto", says Jude.
Jude
1:10
But these speak
evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally,
as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
They are like a bunch of wild animals who are born
to be captured and killed, and perish they will.
2 Pet.
2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count
it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting
themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
Again, these are those who have gone the way of religion,
the way of Cain (see Companion note on Jude 11), seeking greedily after
filthy lucre.
They feast [religiously] with you, but it's at the wrong
wedding feast!
Jude
1:11
Woe unto them!
for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error
of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Korah, Balaam, and Cain all resisted the KNOWN WILL
of God!
They all knew better!
[12]
These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding
themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of
winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked
up by the roots;
They appear to be very religious but they are truly
wolves in sheep's clothing.
2 Pet.
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:
Though many are truly adulterous, this verse means
that their eyes [minds] are full of "idolatry", their chief god being "filthy
lucre" as documented by Peter in the next verse (15).
But first, who are these "unstable" souls [people] that
are able to be captivated by these religious con-artists?
The word "unstable" is dipsuchos, Greek #1374,
two-spitirted,
i.e.
vacillating
(in opinion or purpose).
The reason they vacillate and are easily lead astray is
that they are Biblically illiterate.
Hence they have no foundation, so they are like "a reed
shaken with the wind".
Peter now exposes these false prophets and false teachers
and tells us what their real motives for being in the ministry really are!
2 Pet.
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;
See, they have FORSAKEN the right way, which means
they know better!
Read the story of Balaam in Numbers 22 & 23 how he
"forsook" for money.
[16]
But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice
forbad the madness of the prophet.
God used a dumb ass to speak to and correct the dumb
ass!
[17]
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest;
to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
Jude 1:12
... clouds they
are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth,
without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
They say they have the Living Water and the Fountain
of Life, but their wells are dry and full of deception and lying divinations
(remember Ezek. 13?).
They bring darkness upon the land and darkness shall be
their fate.
Remember, we are talking about preachers and ministers.
2 Pet.
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.
Yes, they are well dressed and speak great and marvelous
things and entice people through EMOTIONALISM, i.e. desires of the flesh,
like "to save it from pain and tribulation" with the promise of a quick
escape in the Rapture Rocket.
[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.
They promise them FREEDOM from financial worries
if they'll just send them money!
They promise them HEALING if they will just believe (and
send them money).
Never once do they mention that Paul asked to be healed
3 times and the Lord said NO!
And they promise them liberty and entrance into the Kingdom
of God while leading them to the entrance gate of hell itself.
Yes, as this scripture declares: "A man is a slave to
whatever has mastered him".
If Satan's false teachers and false prophets have you
following after the traditions of men, then you are his!
He is your master, instead of Jesus!
2 Pet.
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.
Some preachers start out with the right motive but
soon become corrupt and follow the way of Balaam after greed and money.
They spend half their airtime begging for money or selling
books and trinkets.
The other half they spend on sermons about tithing.
No wonder the very first warning of Jesus Christ about
our generation is: Matthew 24:4,5 "Take heed that no man deceive you.
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and
shall deceive many."
Deceive just a few?
No! Many!
So watch out for con-artists!
To "the many" they don't appear as con-artists, do they?
They look like nice guys and gals!
Note: And by the way. If you have
accepted Jesus and not been taught the oracles of God in this generation,
then you will follow Satan when he appears, for you will believe
he is Jesus.
2 Pet.
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.
False prophets, those Balaams, and Cains, and Korahs
of today, who know what God wants them to do and yet turn from the holy
commandment, which is the Word of God, were far better off before they
knew better.
God is not happy with anyone who turns from His commandments,
but especially those who turn and preach other than the Oracles of God.
[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 a quote from Proverbs 26:11.
Proverbs
26:11
As a dog returneth
to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
So take heed that no man deceives you!
Who wants to eat their puke?
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits;
to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
1 Corinthians
10:11 Now all these things happened unto them {the
ancient Israelites} for
ensamples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends
of the world are come.
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