Empty Promises
Notes
Transcript
v.18:
How do these waterless springs (v.17) gain followers?
They are elegant speakers, they know how to "tickle" people's ears.
They play on people's most basic and natural desires, lusts!
False teachers preach to people’s desires, rather than the Word of God.
False teachers preach to people’s desires, rather than the Word of God.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
The Greek word for escape is in the present and active tense, which means it is still happening. It is an uncompleted act, so the KJV and NKJV rendering in the past tense is not the best rendering.
*Those who are actually (really, truly) escaping…*
Notice that they have not yet escaped, they are not quite there yet.
These people are not yet saved, they are on the brink, but not yet there.
Who or what are they escaping from?
In this context, it is likely that these are the people who were breaking free of paganism.
These people were the perfect target for the false teachers.
Its important to remember that Satan will always go after those who are on the brink of salvation.
He doesn't want to see even one more person get saved.
These false teachers are great at promoting their own doctrine, and they will appeal to a person’s natural desire.
All the while, they sound just christian enough to be convincing to the unsaved.
As we will see, they would promise freedom to those who were trying to break free, but it would really be an empty promise.
The same thing happens today.
Religions like the Jehovah’s witnesses and the Mormons will quickly go after those who are vulnerable and are drawn to christianity.
They will offer freedom to those in need, and they will sound christian enough to be convincing.
Like the false teachers of old, they have no freedom to offer, and salvation eludes them.
The only thing they can offer is more slavery and eventual death in hell.
As true believers, we should be quicker to identify those in need, and get to them before the false teachers and religions do.
v.19:
19a:
These false teachers promise to deliver what they themselves do not possess and do not know…freedom!
They themselves are slaves, and they speak in total ignorance.
False teachers are actually slaves, they speak in ignorance.
False teachers are actually slaves, they speak in ignorance.
2 Peter 2:12
2 Peter 2:12
But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,
They have never experienced freedom. Instead, they are slaves, slaves to sin!
The word “hypocrite” describes them well.
19b:
Whenever one ancient civilization would conquer another, those who were defeated would become slaves of the victor.
Likewise, when you are overcome by sin, you become a slave to sin.
However, those who are yielded to and overcome by Christ, become a bondservant of Him.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, This servitude to Christ brings freedom.
vv.20-21:
Some would use vv.20-21 as proof texts for the teaching that you can lose your salvation, but a careful look at the wording proves otherwise.
Rest assured that once you are saved, you are secure in your salvation.
Once you are saved, you are secure in your salvation.
Once you are saved, you are secure in your salvation.
John 10:28-29
John 10:28-29
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
1 John 5:12-13
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
V.20:
Notice that this verse speaks to knowledge, not faith.
Satan loves for people to think they are saved because they have knowledge of God.
They do everything they think they are supposed to do, so they have a false sense of security.
In reality, as this verse says, they are overcome by sin.
The truth is, these people have heard the truth and rejected it by their lack of faith.
James makes it clear that mere knowledge is not enough.
Mere knowledge is not sufficient for salvation.
Mere knowledge is not sufficient for salvation.
James 2:19
James 2:19
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
Many atheists have knowledge of God, and may people are able to give a temporary appearance of salvation.
What Peter is talking about here is an illusion.
These people were never saved, yet they had the knowledge. Woe to them!
V.21:
Hell is worse for those who reject, than for those who have never heard.
Hell is worse for those who reject, than for those who have never heard.
Romans 2:12
Romans 2:12
For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law
Luke 12:47-48
Luke 12:47-48
And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
With knowledge comes the responsibility to act on that knowledge.
With knowledge comes the responsibility to act on that knowledge.
Hebrews 10:26-31
Hebrews 10:26-31
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
v.22:
Here, Peter uses 2 graphic examples to describe the apostate or false teacher.
1. dog
Calling someone a dog is a derogatory term.
Calling someone a dog is a derogatory term.
Proverbs 26:11
Proverbs 26:11
As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.
2. sow
Referring to someone as a sow is first seen here.
Just as the nature of an animal is never truly changed, the false teacher, despite his outward appearance was never changed.
Those who follow the false teachers are trapped by a sinful illusion.
Despite the promises of the false teacher, their heart has never been renewed and they will eventually return to their old ways.
Only Christ can renew and save you.
Only Christ can renew and save you.
John 3:3
John 3:3
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Acts 4:12
Acts 4:12
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
