Untitled Sermon (3)

Peter after fully characterizing false teachers now goes into a description of their impact and their primary targets.

Ultimately what we will see is that false teachers, heretics promise the world, and freedom, while being enslaved and destroyed by their own sin.

V. 17

“ These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved”

The imagery here is quite robust.

Here we have Peter describing the message of the false teachers. They attract people, and like a person stuck in the desert longs for water, people cling to their message, but what they ultimately find is nothing.

Promised fulfillment but left thirsty.

How exactly are these messages presented and what makes them so enticing?

V. 18

a. “For, speaking loud boasts of folly,”

These men are very powerful speakers, and people are drawn to the charisma they speak with.

They speak so impressivley that people are lulled to sleep so that they do not recognize the poison in their words.

b. “ they entice by sensual passions of the flesh”

They drawn them in with charisma, only to tickle the ears and entice the flesh of their targets.

People go to false teachers because the false teachers promise them what there flesh wants. (money, power, sex, validation, sin)

c. those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.

What’s so interesting here is that the primary target Peter mentions are young and immature Christians.

People who are either very young in their faith or have not grown so that they are tossed around by every new wave of teaching.

And being so young in their walk, they are drawn to these teachers, because the they promise freedom, while at the same time diminishing the cost.

V.19

They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved

These waterless clouds as Jude descibes them, preach freedom while being enslaved to their own sin.

This can either mean that they promise freedom from judgment or from moral constraint.

Likely means that they are allowed to live in whatever moral capacity that want. “essentially do as you please or do what makes you happy”

Again preaching freedom while being enslaved to their own passion.

Speak about addicts:

Alcohol

Sex

Drugs

Liars and Gossips

Here we have a shift in Peter’s description and it is a warning toward the false teachers but it should be sobering to us as well.

V.20-22

For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.  For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness

This is not referring to the idea that we can lose our salvation, but is instead a warning to people who once claim Christianity who now reject it.

People who walk away were never truly saved, but there is no doubt that the bible teaches that people who walk away from Christ, or who have a good understanding of the message and reject it will be judged more harshly.

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.”

The point about unbelievers is here solidified.

Unchanged hearts will return to their old way of life.

So the warnings from this passage are clear, and thus there are three points we need to be sure to draw out.

Seek growth in your understanding about Christ, for false teachers target the immature.

Those that indulge in the flesh and speak positively about corruption are not to be trusted.

Their is harsher judgement for those who know the gospel and reject it, so do not be caught with an unbelieving heart.

Discussion Questions:

How does image of a waterless spring help you understand the problem with a false teachers?

What were the ways that false teachers gain attention and popularity? Do we see this a lot today?

Is is intimidating to think that people are judged more harshly for knowing more about God and still rejecting Him? How does this challenge us in our own walk with God?