Good morning,
The death of George Floyd has caused our nation to revisit the discussion on social injustice. Protests over police brutality have been marked by peaceful assemblies and those bent on destruction. The result of the destruction has been looting, crimes against police, and murder. Innocent people, who were just coming back from the COVID-19 pandemic, have been affected.
Why? The root cause of this violence is sin. It is rebellion against God, His purposes, and His love for mankind. Neither side in this conflict seems to recognize God’s control.
However, if you think this is a new phenomenon, you would be wrong. God through the apostle Peter gave us a graphic picture of this two thousand years ago.
This week we will look at 2 Peter 2. We will begin with the root of the problem found in Genesis 3. Then we will see how the false teachers of Peter’s day caused rebellion and destruction. They too were trying to destroy those who worshipped God.
The destructiveness of false teachers (2 Peter 2:1-3)
Their destructive heresies (2:1-2)
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”
Their destructive methods (2:1,3)
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”
Their destructive end (2:1,3)
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”
Peaceable protest is a protected right in America. However, when the peaceful protests turn into riots, false teachers have changed the narrative for their own desires.
In this current instance, one man’s death has turned to riots all around the world. Millions of dollars in damage have occurred and lives lost or disrupted. The avenged are now the avengers.
Peter writes about the characteristics of the false teachers. They do not tell the truth, they deny the Lord Jesus Christ, and they have their own agenda. The consequences of their sin are swift destruction.
We live in a dark world. Jesus came to be the light of the world.
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Will the light of Jesus or the darkness of the false teachers bring reconciliation to the problems of men?
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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