Plymothian

¹⁷ These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. ¹⁸ For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. ¹⁹ They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves^[f] of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. ²⁰ For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. ²¹ For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. ²² What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

Consumer Church, Selfish Faith, Coca-Cola

Waterless springs and driven mists promise refreshing, life-giving, water but they deliver nothing.  False teachers make bold promises and lead others astray, but they deliver nothing.  There are many voices that make promises in our culture.  I think of the implicit promises of Coca-Cola.  The images of coke involve young people who are happy.  The implication in the advertising is that if you drink this product you will have access to eternal youth, fun, and fitness.  Of course, the product really rots your teeth, adds weight, and pollutes the system with caffeine.  Many movies preach the meaning of life.  If you have a model partner, a lot of money, or you receive justice, it will make you happy.  Some media even encourages you to live life checked out from engaging with day-to-day issues.  Of course, there is media that communicates true principles about life, but the truth is not always easy to find.

False teachers’ dark clouds will be replaced with impenetrable darkness for eternity.  Those who taught in Asia Minor encouraged sensual passions among those who were just escaping from a life where the senses were satiated.  Today the church does, in many cases, teach those who are escaping consumerism to consume.  We just buy Christian merchandise rather than pagan.  I am not saying we shouldn’t pay for Christian products and services, but there is a spirit of consumerism which permeates churches and teaches attendees to be consumers without even knowing it.

Have you ever noticed how rebels slavishly dress the same?  I am not just talking about the way that communists dress in overalls, I am talking about the way that disillusioned youth slavishly wear black t-shirts or ripped jeans.  There is no freedom as we perceive it in the 21st century mind.  Our freedom would be a freedom from everything and a freedom to do anything.  However, one is always a slave to something and the freedom is just in the choice of who you will serve.  The seemingly most enlightened members of our society are actually enslaved to themselves and their passions.

If a person who is exploring the faith, and finds elementary truths in it, has their head turned by those who would inject consumerism, individualism, and skepticism (which I see in many of today’s churches), they will not find their way to a deep relationship with Jesus.  Those who make a false commitment and are turned away by those who are committed to anything other than Jesus will not find their way back.  They are inoculated against true faith by the false faith they have cultivated.

Bold and wilful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones, ¹¹ whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgement against them before the Lord. ¹² But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, ¹³ suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, revelling in their deceptions,^[e] while they feast with you. ¹⁴ They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! ¹⁵ Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, ¹⁶ but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

Pleasure Seekers

There are those who would curse demons and lord it over them without reliance on God.  I have witnessed people talk casually to devils, casting them aside.  However, verse ten above condemns those who would take lightly their interaction with demonic forces.  The glorious ones are not angels but demons.  Those who blaspheme them attempt to pronounce judgment on them and speak ill of them in the place of God.  I have seen this in some charismatic circles as some people speak to Satan or demons as though they were errant children, not with any thought of humility in the created order.

Such people in the church, will also claim wealth and possessions as blessings and will gorge themselves at dinner.  They are sensate.  God created us with senses and those senses can legitimately enjoy the pleasures that God has placed in the world.  However, God did not create us for pleasure as an end in itself.  Pleasure is an experience that is had whilst pursuing the highest call possible.  The highest call is intimate relationship with and obedience to God.  Many in Christendom see God as a means to an end rather than the end itself.  They will have a rude awakening when their lack of humility is exposed.  As far as they have taught others to live a life of hedonism, they will reap judgment.

Hedonism is one of the prevailing worldviews today.  It is encouraged by mothers who sigh that they just want their children to be happy.  To be ‘happy’ does not mean to be ‘good’.  To be good can only come from an outside source, that of God himself.  those who seek their own happiness and find pleasure in a spouse, a career, or possessions have lost their way.  Unfortunately, this kind of pursuit of happiness leads to an insatiable lust.  Consumerism consumes the consumer.  We devour ourselves with a drive to satiate our senses.  For the consumer, each experience needs to be better than the last and so their eyes are always wandering:  Another spouse seems more caring or sexually attractive; another cupcake seems more delicious; another job promises more money; another house facilitates bigger parties.  The pleasure actually dwindles to nothing as we have it all, but we miss the simple life of the pursuit of God.  We were designed for a quest which changes our own longings and is only satisfied with a fresh experience of God.

Prayer

Jesus, you are enough.  I have heard so much about all that I ‘need’ from advertisers.  I am grateful for the family, the possessions, and the life that I have.  However, you are my life and I want to follow you.

Questions

1. About whom is Peter talking in these verses?
2. To whom does he compare them?
3. Why is Peter justified in speaking so negatively about these people?
4. Who teaches hedonism today?
5. How has hedonism affected you and the church?

 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell^[a] and committed them to chains^[b] of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgement; ⁵ if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; ⁶ if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;^{[c] 7} and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked ⁸ (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); ⁹ then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials,^[d] and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgement, ¹⁰ and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.

Casting Angels Into Hell

The most radiant of beings, angels of light, were created free.  They were able to choose which way they want to live their lives.  Many chose to dedicate their lives to the service of the one who created them.  In so doing, they maintained their purity and radiance.  Tartarus was the destination of those who rebelled against God.  I do not believe this is literal, but figurative.  In Greek mythology, Tartarus was as far below Hades as Hades is below the earth.  It was an extreme banishment and was reserved for Titans and gods.  Peter alludes to the mythological fall of the Greek mythologies to paint a vivid picture of the depths to which the angelic beings fell.  God has exercised the power to cast angelic beings far from his presence.  He has also pronounced judgment on the whole world and engulfed it with water.  Why, then, do some people think that their self-centered teaching will bring about no consequences?

We need to have a fear of God.  It is not the fear of what will happen to his own, it is a fear that comes about in the face of such power.  We do not attribute changes in the weather to God, these days.  The Philippines is not seen as a particular place of punishment because of the weather that tore it apart.  I believe that is a good perspective.  We do not know why such things are allowed to happen.  Jesus, in Matthew 24/25 lets us know that horrible events will continue, but the end is yet to come.  We are promised, though, that a holy God will bring a final day of judgment where all these catastrophes will appear like mere child’s play.  If we believe in a God who has the right and the power to execute global justice, with all its implications, we should not respond with laughter and mocking.  Our response to an almighty and powerful God is to live in obedience and reverence.

The mark of those who attend churches but don’t understand the God who is worshiped there, is that they indulge their passions and disrespect authority.  We have taught the youth to rage against the machine, forgetting that we are part of the authority structure that we have had them dismantle.  Disrespect and disobedience bring about their own terrible rewards in God’s world.  We were not designed to be isolated, to be selfish, to satiate our senses, or to hate each other.  We were designed to be in community, to serve others, to be self-controlled, and to love one-another.

Prayer

I want a God who is a soft, understanding friend.  I don’t have a drive for a hard, just, terrorizing God.  Help me to see your power and to think about it rightly.  Help me to live life trembling with reverence like electricity lines buzz when filled with power.

Questions

1. Where were angelic beings cast?
2. What other massive acts of judgment has God perpetrated?
3. Why is Peter telling Christians about God’s terrifying power and judgment?
4. How do people today need to respond to God in light of this passage?
5. How do you respond to this passage?

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. ³ And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

False Teachers

I often will listen to John MacArthur on Moody radio.  His exposition of the scriptures is strong and his application to life is often encouraging.  However, he spends a lot of his time rooting out false teachers in the church.  His present argument is with the charismatics and Pentecostals and his arguments are now available on line http://www.gty.org/resources/sermon-series/325/ .  Should we go after false teachers with the frequency and the vehemence of John MacArthur and James MacDonald?  Should we show videos on our church websites that accuse former board members of being used by Satan to spread falsehood?

The passage above seems to indicate that we should be aware that in many congregations of believers there will be those who promote unsound ideas.  However, isn’t that part of growing pains.  Some children I know think that when we die we become angels.  The Bible teaches nothing of the sort – should I publicly out them and condemn them?  No, of course not.  They are not teachers and they are not leading others astray.  Should I throw myself out of the church because I have changed my position on some doctrines as I have studied scripture more?  No, that is part of the maturing process.  The key for recognizing false teachers is what they do with Jesus.  The word referring to Jesus, Master, is the word that we get ‘despot’ from.  False teachers are often those who use Jesus to get what they want.  They manipulate those around them, and manipulate God (in their own perception, but not reality) to get what they want.  Jesus is not the despot over them, they are despotic in their teaching in the church.

So, is John MacArthur right?  I’ll let you listen to his sermons and make up your own mind.  I believe that any person who promotes ‘believing for’ something should be regarded with suspicion.  Often today it is a phrase used for manipulating Jesus and the Holy Spirit rather than submitting to God.  We should look at 1 Corinthians 14 and ask why many churches speak in tongues without an immediate translation.  Should we then say that all those who practice such things are heretics, false teachers, or even damned?  It all depends whether their religion is really a sham and their faith is rooted in self or in Jesus.  The evidence that Peter sees of false teaching is that there is an air of sensuality or greed.  Do you know anyone who teaches from those motives?  If you do, stay away.

Prayer

Jesus, I am grieved when I hear preachers on air go after others with the fervour of witch-hunters of the Puritan era.  I wish there was no conflict in the church.  I am not a fan.  However, we need to pursue truth and we need to stand by it.  May we crave the truth of scripture and a sincere experience of the Holy Spirit.  May the Spirit lead us in prayers that enhance a true relationship and may the Spirit lead us to speak up when the truth is compromised but to hold our tongue if it will bring about true peace.

Questions

1. How does the acknowledgement of false prophets transition from chapter 1?
2. How does a false teacher differ from a false prophet?
3. Why would Peter refer to Jesus as ‘despot’?
4. Is John MacArthur correct to spend so much of his time addressing false teachers and false teaching in his sermons?
5. What false teachers and teaching are you addressing in the lives of those you know?

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”^{[b] 18} We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

¹⁹ We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ²⁰ Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. ²¹ For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Second Coming as a Myth

The perousia, or Second Coming of Jesus, is something that scholars in the ancient world were teaching as a myth.  That is, they might have attributed some sort of value to it as a story to encourage good behaviour, but they would not have seen it as rooted in history. It was common for myths to be taught in ancient religions so that truths could be gleaned from them.  This is not the way we often use myth to describe an untruth.  Myths were stories told to communicate truths, but they were not based on real-life events.  Probably in joining the Roman and Greek religions with the Judeo-Christian faith, some intellectuals read the Greek and Roman style of myths into the gospel.

Peter’s response is that Jesus’ Second Coming is no myth told to keep people hopeful in darkened times.  The historical future is as certain as the historical past.  Peter refers to the historicity of the Transfiguration which he had seen for himself.  Of course, the event was hard to believe because it had miraculous elements.  However, it was not a myth invented to communicate something deep.  It was a real event which communicated deep truths about the identity of Jesus.  In the same way, Jesus’ return is something that is accurately prophesied.  That is why the prophets are mentioned here as not mere story tellers, but they are people who were inspired by God to speak of future events beyond their experience or knowledge.

In today’s world, people often try and recast the ancient writings of the Jewish faith as though they were stories made up to communicate complex ideas.  They are as helpful to us as The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, or other epic tales of heroism and adventure.  However, just as we should discount dragons and Jedi as inventions of creative minds, so we should dismiss angels and miracles as inventions created to enhance the story.  If we demythologize the text, in other words remove all the mythological elements, we can more clearly get to the mind of the author.  The miracles and supernatural creatures are mere details that obscure the point.  This is how some approach the Bible and that is exactly the kind of scholar Peter is arguing against.  Tolkien saw no dragons, and George Lucas has never met a Jedi.  Peter is saying, “I saw Jesus in an historical context behaving in a glorious and inexplicable way.  In the future he will return with just as amazing a presence.”  Skeptics will always find a way to discredit what they don’t want to believe.  Do you want to relegate the Holy Bible to Science-Fiction or Fantasy?  If you want to keep trusting it has historical fact, Peter says we can take his word for it.

Prayer

Doubts can gain a foothold in many ways.  I pray that I would accept the explanations and the encouragement of scripture about its validity.  I accept that scripture can appeal to no higher authority, but sometimes my struggling mind doubts all the same.  Give me the faith to push through until the sense of my assurance returns.  help me to know the books to read around the subject.  I value my relationship with you enough to not let it go because it is questioned.  I will research at the level of my questions.

Questions

1. How is eschatology probably being questioned?
2. How does Peter develop his argument against those who would doubt Jesus’ Second Coming?
3. Why might people want to push further and doubt Petrine (Peter’s) authorship of 2 Peter?
4. How do people talk about Jesus’ Second Coming today?
5. How do you work through doubts about historical events mentioned in scripture that seem too fantastic to be true?

¹² So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. ¹³ I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, ¹⁴ because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”^{[b] 18} We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

¹⁹ We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ²⁰ Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. ²¹ For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Be Reminded

This time of year is Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night in England.  On November 5th we take an effigy of Guy Fawkes and burn him on a fire.  We do this each year to remember what happens to traitors who try and blow up parliament and bring down the government.  We have a rhyme that goes with the festivities:

Remember, remember the fifth of November

Gunpowder, treason, and plot.

I see no reason why gunpowder, treason

Should ever be forgot

Remembering Guy Fawkes has become suspect to me in recent years.  However, remembering things and reminding each other is key to living a godly life.  There is a tendency to study things once, check them off and then we think we are done.  However, if we do not meditate on the truths that we have, they become superficial and they cease to affect us in the same life-transforming way.  I know many people who were established in the truth, but they then attended church less because other things seemed just as important.  They dropped off on their Bible study, and ceased to refresh their relationship with Jesus by learning new things about him daily.  They fell off in prayer, they were not reminded of what it is like to talk with God daily.  No songs or praise came from their lips about God any more.  That is the decline that comes in the life of the Christian when one ceases to remind themselves of the truths of scripture and reflect on what they mean for the life of the Christian.

Why would we bother meditating on the Bible and its truths?  Unlike what some in society would try and tell us, they are not fairy tales told to keep a nation compliant.  People did not compose stories about fairies and goblins in order to bend people to the will of the state.  We do well to pay attention to scripture because it is truth communicated by God in order to conform each of us more each day to the image of Jesus.  Those who became Christian just to fend off hell, find themselves disinterested in the transformative truth.  Those who became Christian s to know Jesus find they lap up each God-inspired word that is written in his book.

Prayer

Father, I forget so easily all that makes life most precious.  I invest time in things that are not eternal and I am prone to live like eternity doesn’t exist.  Help me to be disciplined to remind myself of who you are and to change my life accordingly.  Transform me as I am reminded through scripture of who you truly are.

Questions

1. Why does Peter remind people of what they have already been told?
2. How is scripture key to remembering?
3. At what time in his life is Peter writing this?
4. How do you remind yourself best of truths about Jesus?
5. Who do you know who needs reminding of the truths they once held dear?