True & False (Part 2)

2 Peter 2:4 CSB

For if God didn’t spare the angels who sinned but cast them into hell and delivered them in chains of utter darkness to be kept for judgment;

INTRO—

[[‘Timeline Cleanse’ — Latest BJG pic sitting on bridge.

…and then there’s this false teacher who claims that special needs kids, specifically those with autism, are nothing but demonized. His name—Greg Locke (if he sounds familiar, I’ve also mentioned him before as a false teacher wrapped up with political idolatry himself).]]

[REVIEW — “False Has Always Been” (2 Peter 2.1-3)…

“There were false prophets, and there will be false teachers.” [2.1]

False Teachers will…bring in destructive damaging teaching (doctrine); draw others away to follow them; cause others to belittle, disparage the way of truth; AND take advantage of you in their greed.

False Teachers will receive…swift destruction on themselves; condemnation that isn’t idle and destruction that isn’t asleep.]

Having asserted the fate of false teachers at the end of v. 3—He now affirms this truth, in vv. 4-8, through historical examples. (information to warn off his readers from the potential allure of false teachers AND to stock-pile in case a false teacher down-plays this truth)

**JUSTICE & MERCY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN!**

Justice & Mercy Have Always Been [2 Peter 2.4-8]

God’s CONSISTENCY (& Constancy) in responding to wickedness:

[[untruth (lie) — false prophets, teachers, … His perfect judgment against]]

ANGELS didn’t get a ‘pass.’ [2.4]

The issue = those angels swept away in Satan’s sway (others say Gen 6.1ff ); PRIDE & REBELLION

Angels who didn’t sin…kept in heaven (preserved)

ANCIENT WORLD (early OT) didn’t get a pass. [2.5]

The issue = no respect, fear of God; APATHY & DISOBEDIENCE

Noah, plus seven (his family: Noah, wife, 3 sons and their wives)…protected (preserved — guarded, saved)

SODOM & GOMORRAH didn’t get a pass [2.6-8]

The issue = Jude 7 “Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns committed sexual immorality and perversions, and serve as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”; SENSUALITY & SEXUAL IMMORALITY

Lot, and his family* (well…until his wife looked back)…rescued ([again in 2.9]; preserved — saved, removed from)

All these characteristics—pride, rebellion, apathy, disobedience, sensuality, & sexual immorality—are found to varying degrees in false teachers!

CONCL—

“IF”—vv. 4, 5, 6 (If…and if…and if)— “THEN” = v. 9-10a!!!

2 Peter 2:9–10 “then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, especially those who follow the polluting desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold, arrogant people!” (through 10a)

[A people feeling significantly challenged—from outside…and now hearing about from “inside”—need to hear that God is a faithful and consistent judge of the wicked…AND that he is a faithful and consistent savior of the faithful.]

**AND…JUSTICE & MERCY WILL ALWAYS BE!

SOOOO… not wanting any part with false teachers and their damaging, divisive, unbiblical doctrine…what then??

Micah 6:8 “Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

((Also, this issue is important to me. I believe it should be important to us all. We should value and prioritize the sanctity of the message. Think of it like this…would we let stand someone redefine and destroy what it means to be a Gordon…Foltz…Gibson. Or would we set ourselves to prove them to be pretenders, liars?))

INVITATION:

Salvation

Know & Value the Truth

Courage to Reject the Lies

Prepare for the Lord’s Supper

THE LORD’S SUPPER

BODY OF CHRIST (Bread)

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.””

BLOOD OF CHRIST (Cup)

1 Corinthians 11:25 “In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.””

PROMISE OF CHRIST

1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

2 Peter 2:10 CSB

especially those who follow the polluting desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold, arrogant people! They are not afraid to slander the glorious ones;