MARKED MEN: Their Reveling (2 Peter 2:13–14a)

In our own society, there are those apostates who enjoy luxurious living. They plead for funds for their “ministries,” yet live in expensive houses, drive luxury cars, and wear costly clothes. When we remember that Jesus became poor in order to make us rich, their lavish lifestyle seems out of step with New Testament Christianity. Not only do they deceive others, but they even deceive themselves! They can “prove” from the Bible that their lifestyle is right. A person can become so accustomed to their vices that they see them as virtues.

I. These false teachers were “spots” and “blemishes” that defiled the assembly.

13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you,

A. The Word of God removes the spots and blemishes.

False teachers do not minister the truth of the Word. They twist Scripture to make it say what they want it to say.

False doctrine inevitably leads to false living, and false living then encourages false doctrine. The apostate must “adjust” God’s Word or change their way of life, and they are not about to change their lifestyle! So, wherever they go, they secretly defile people and makes it easier for them to sin. It is possible to go to a church fellowship and be defiled!

B. Churches need to exercise authority and practice discipline.

Christian love does not mean that we tolerate every false doctrine and every so-called “lifestyle.” The Bible makes it clear that some things are right and some things are wrong.

No Christian whose belief and behavior are contrary to the Word of God should be permitted to share in the Lord’s Supper or to have a spiritual ministry in the church. His defiling influence may not be seen immediately, but ultimately it will create serious problems.

II. False teachers want to satisfy their own lusts.

14a having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls.

A. They cannot cease from sin.

Why are they unable to stop? Because they are in bondage. The apostates consider themselves to be “free,” yet they are in the most terrible kind of slavery. Whatever they touch, they defile; whoever they enlist, they enslave.

“Enticing unstable souls” presents the picture of a fisherman baiting a hook or a hunter baiting a trap. Satan knows that he could never trap us unless there is some fine bait to attract us in the first place. Satan promised Eve that she and Adam would become “like God” if they ate of the forbidden tree (Gen. 3:4–5), and they “took the bait” and were trapped.

B. What kind of “bait” do the apostates use to catch people?

They offer them “liberty”. This probably means a perversion of the grace of God, “turn the grace of our God into lewdness” (Jude 4). “Since you are saved by grace,” they argued, “then you have the freedom to sin. The more you sin, the more of God’s grace you will experience!”

Along with “freedom” they also bait the trap with “fulfillment.” They say, “The Christian life that the church offers is old-fashioned and outdated. We have a new lifestyle that makes you feel fulfilled and helps you find your true self!” Alas, like the prodigal son, these unstable souls try to find themselves, but they end up losing themselves. In their search for fulfillment they become very self-centered and lose the opportunities for growth that come from serving others.

III. There can be no freedom or fulfillment apart from Jesus Christ.

A. Submit to Jesus.

The purpose of life, is not to find your freedom, but to find your master. Just as a gifted musician finds freedom and fulfillment putting themselves under the discipline of a great artist, or an athlete under the discipline of a great coach, so the believer finds true freedom and fulfillment under the authority of Jesus Christ.

B. Who are the people who “take the bait”?

Peter Peter called them “unstable souls.” Stability is an important factor in a successful Christian life. Just as a child must learn to stand before they can walk or run, so the Christian must learn to “stand firm in the Lord.” Paul and the other Apostles sought to establish their converts in the faith. Peter was certain that his readers were “established in the present truth”, but he still warned them.