When Faith is Fake
Old Apostates
Sexually Immoral
Sodom and Gomorrah
New Apostates
They defile the flesh
Deny Authority/Rule themselves
Speak evil of those deserving honor.
1. Clouds Without Rain
As leaders, these apostates were clouds without rain, blown along by the wind. This is the first of four vivid comparisons from nature in verses 12–13. These men had no water for thirsty souls; they only pretended that they did. And they were soon gone, unstable as wind-driven clouds.
2. Trees Without Fruit
The dead condition of apostate leaders was indicated by two things: (a) they did not bear spiritual fruit in others, and (b) they were without spiritual roots themselves, and thus faced judgment.
3. Waves Without Control
Like wild waves of the sea, raging back and forth and producing only froth on the shore, these apostates spewed their foam with nothing solid, edifying, helpful, or nourishing. What they produced was only shame, which their actions caused.
4. Wandering Stars
Wandering stars (i.e., “shooting” stars), move across the sky, shining briefly, and then vanish without producing light or giving direction. Fixed stars help guide navigators, but wandering stars are useless to them. If any shipmaster would be stupid enough to follow one, he would be led astray. Similarly the prominence of apostate leaders is short-lived, useless, and false. They do lead unwary followers astray, pretending to be what they are not. They will therefore be swallowed up into the blackest darkness forever; eternal judgment is certain for them.
These apostates were not unfruitful believers, who would not receive rewards in heaven at the judgment seat of Christ. Instead they were impostors who would be judged according to their evil deeds.
Characteristics of Apostates
1. Grumblers/Complainers
2. Fault finders
3. Have to get their way
They pursued pleasure by seeking to fulfill their own desires rather than thinking about how they could strengthen others.
Thus while the statement remains a condemnation, the behavior in mind is more a matter of favoring human decisions over God’s. This will eventually lead to sin.
4. Bombastic, Pompous speech
The last activity in this part of the indictment depicts the ingratiating bias of the false teachers toward those with influence in the community. In a general sense this simply means showing favoritism toward (probably) the powerful for the returns that would come (
