A.      As we studied in the last lesson, the eventual punishment of false teachers is assured, but that does not prevent them from posing an extreme danger to Christians today.

B.      In this lesson, we will consider Peter’s detailed description of some particular false teachers and notice what would happen to those who were taken in by them in 2Peter 2:10-22.

II.      DESCRIPTION OF THESE FALSE TEACHERS

A.      At this point, we should acknowledge the similarity between 2Peter and the book of Jude.

                                                             1.      It appears that Jude may have used 2Peter as a reference for his letter or possibly that the Holy Spirit induced Peter and Jude to write virtually the same message.

a.       It seems that Peter wrote his letter before Jude, for Peter wrote of the false teachers in the future tense whereas Jude wrote of them in the present (compare 2:1-3 with Jude 4).

b.       Also, it appears that Jude actually quoted from 2Peter 3:3 (see Jude 17-18)

                                                             2.      Because of this, we can view 2Peter and Jude as divine commentaries for each other, and thus we can gain some insight by comparing the two books to one another.

B.      Let us read 2:9-19 and then summarize Peter’s descriptions of these false teachers.

                                                             1.      Notice that Peter is very specific in his description of these false teachers.

a.       These were “those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority” (v. 10).  The descriptions that follow are an elaboration upon these particular teachers.

b.       It is important for us to recognize that a false teacher does not have to fit every description given here by Peter to be classified as a false teacher.  Nevertheless, the danger of apostasy due to false teachers is the same regardless of the various teachers.

                                                             2.      These false teachers were arrogant to the point of fearlessness.

a.       Peter said that “they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties” (v. 10).

i.         Peter contrasts them to “angels who are greater in might and power” who “do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord” (v. 11).

ii.        Jude contrasts them the archangel Michael who did not even revile the devil, saying, “These men revile the things which they do not understand” (Jude 9-10).

iii.      We cannot know what exactly these false teachers said against the angelic majesties, but it seems likely that they rejected and rebuked the spiritual message of the angels and despised the authority of heaven (see Jude 8).

b.       They also “count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime” (v. 13).

i.         Peter goes on to say more specifically that they reveled “in their deceptions as they carouse with you.”  This means that they delighted in their deceit.  Jude wrote of them feasting with Christians without fear (Jude 12).

ii.        Moreover, the fact that they reveled “in the daytime” indicates that they had no shame over their sin, but instead they boldly displayed their wickedness in the open (compare to Eph. 5:11-12).

                                                             3.      They used sensual and fleshly appeals to seduce their listeners.

a.       They are described as “having eyes full of adultery and that never cease from sin” (v. 14).

b.       They “entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality” (v. 18).

i.         By these things, they enticed “unstable souls” (v. 14) and “those who barely escape from the ones who live in error” (v. 18).

ii.        These false teachers preyed upon weak and unstable Christians.  This is why Peter began this letter with the admonition to build strong spiritual character (see 1:5-11).  Such character is necessary to survive the enticement of the world.

                                                             4.      They were full of greed and deceit.

a.       They have “a heart trained in greed” (v. 14).

i.         Peter warned that “in their greed they will exploit you with false words” (2:3).

ii.        Jude warned that they were “flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage” (Jude 16).

iii.      Both Peter (vv. 15-16) and Jude (Jude 11) compared them to Balaam, who for profit went to curse the people of God but was prevented by God (Num. 22).

b.       They promise “freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption” (v. 19).

i.         These false teachers likely promised freedom from the bounds of righteousness and liberty to indulge every sinful desire.  Again, notice that they reveled “in their deceptions” (v. 13).

ii.        In truth, they and those who followed them became slaves of the sin that overcame them (see Rom. 6:16; Gal. 5:13).

                                                             5.      Their end is destruction.

a.       They are to be destroyed like wild animals (v. 12).

i.         Peter compared the false teachers to “unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed.”  They thoughtlessly indulged every impulse of the flesh like mere animals.

ii.        Just as animals will be destroyed along with the world, so also these false teachers will meet their destruction (2Pet. 3:10).

iii.      Jude likewise wrote, “…and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed” (Jude 10).

b.       They will suffer “wrong as the wages of doing wrong” (v. 13).

i.         They will receive what is due to them both in this life and in death (see Rom. 1:27; 6:23a).

ii.        Both Peter and Jude describe them as fleeting, worthless things.  Peter calls them “springs without water, and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved” (v. 17).  Jude calls them “clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever” (Jude 12-13).

III.   THE LAST IS WORSE THAN THE FIRST

A.      The effect of false teachers upon Christians who are caught in their deceit is apostasy (2:20-22).

                                                             1.      The fate of apostate Christian is so dreadful that Peter said that “the last state has become worse than the first” and that “it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness.”

                                                             2.      Peter vividly illustrates this truth through the use of two proverbs – a” dog that returns to its own vomit” and “a sow, after washing, that returns to wallowing in the mire.”

                                                             3.      Why would the fate of apostate Christians be worse than that of sinners who have never known the gospel?

a.       Apostate Christians will suffer the regret of having given up their salvation for eternity.  What a miserable plight to have been so close only to let eternal life slip away!

b.       If Christians decide to turn away from the gospel, then there is nothing else to save them.  At least sinners who have never heard the gospel still have the chance of hearing and obeying it, but there is no other hope for persons who reject the gospel (see Heb. 6:4-8; 10:26-31).

B.      This passage clearly demonstrates the dangerous possibility of forfeiting one’s salvation.

                                                             1.      Peter describes people who “have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (compare to 1:3-4) and who “have known the way of righteousness.”  Clearly, Peter describes persons who were saved from their sins.

                                                             2.      These people can be “again entangled in” defilements of the world and overcome.  They can “turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them” after they have known the way of righteousness.

                                                             3.      This passage leaves no doubt that a person who obtained his salvation through faithful obedience to Christ can also lose his salvation through subsequent unfaithfulness and disobedience.

IV.    CONCLUSION

A.      Peter’s original readers were in grave spiritual danger because of false teachers, and false teachers continue to endanger the souls of Christians today.  Let us therefore be on our guard.

B.      In our next lesson, we will consider 2Peter 3:1-10 – “The Day of the Lord.”