To Boldly Go...

…where Others Have Gone Before

…and were likely going in other churches as well as those to whom Peter wrote

>>and some—many, sadly—are still going

As the writer of Ecclesiastes said:

There is no new thing under the son

False prophets had been common in the OT

The apostles dealt with some false teachers in the book of Acts

The ones addressed by Peter—also Jude—were particularly pernicious

…bringing their false teaching into the church, supplanting true teaching

>>much was particularly relating to rampant, overt sexual immorality

…>>seems to be a continual theme, a common problem

Seem to be extending the norms of evil to yet a new level; going beyond

…at least when you combine all the aspects of their sinful behavior

Running application in this message, with a wrap at the end

Addressing

English Standard Version Chapter 2

those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority

We are not considering these people to be true believers

The pattern of their lives shows them to be otherwise

1 John 2:19 ESV

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

Understanding the playing field

Sexual activity is designed for marriage; we are (should be) above the base instinct of animals

We have the capacity for restraint, love, care…a different type of pleasure than pure instinct

Moreover, marriage is an image of God’s relationship to Israel

Christ and the church; purity is expected

Beyond Blasphemy

Some form of blasphemeo in vv 10b, 11 & 12; can mean revile, blaspheme, slander, malign, defame

…used twice as a verb, once as an adjective

Exactly what they were saying and about whom, we do not know exactly

Blaspheme glorious ones

Not a lot of information here, could mean angels overall

…could mean those angels who sinned (Gen 6…last week)

…could mean the rightful teachers and leaders of the churches

>>this would fit as their licentious teaching was contrary to sound, Biblical teaching, at odds with the legit teaching in churches

Whomever the intended target of the blasphemy, it was improper and condemned

Even high-ranking angels do not pronounce judgments against even fallen angels (v.11)

Jude 9 ESV

But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

Their blasphemy is toward things of which they have no knowledge

…shows the base level of their true understanding

Peter doesn’t say much good about them…nothing good, actually

…irrational animals...

…born for destruction...

…will be destroyed in their destruction...

An understanding of the times was that some things were born only for destruction—a rat, left to its own devices, will do nothing but eat, sleep and breed

…aaaaaaaaaaaaaand nothing has changed

Similar error was…has been…is...getting into the church

Must use the “church” loosely—more-so than I’d like to

At the highest levels, sexual sin is being normalized

Denominations are allowing membership, even ordination to those openly practicing sexual sin

…homosexuality is still called an abomination—that has not changed

Even within the RC church. current Pope has said allowance needs to be made for homosexuals

“...homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family.”

“They’re children of God and have a right to a family,”

Quotations from the Washington Post

Beyond Debauchery

There is a redneck joke about going to a family reunion to pick up chicks—that’s actually too true.

With no humor at all, that is what was happening here

This is a violation of the family—the church family; what should be a safe place for all

Though church is a good place to find a potential wife or husband, the God-ordained relationship of marriage is what should be sought…not immoral affairs

Understanding a bit of background: church would assemble for a communal meal before celebration of the Lord’s Supper; an “agape” feast

It was misuse of this custom Paul addressed in 1 Cor 11:17 to end; laying out proper patterns of behavior

Properly done, it would have been a meal, largely provided by the wealthier of the church, to which all would come (primitive pot-luck)

It was at these events the false teachers became blots and blemishes

They were—best case—using them for an opportunity to fuel their insatiable sexual passions; lusting with their eyes for future conquest; shopping for easy marks

…some scholars lean toward the false teachers turning the love feasts into orgies (I would agree with that)

They were engaging in their wanton pursuit of immorality 24/7; even normal pagans understood that the daylight was for working

Not these

They prey upon the unsteady (predators single them out easily and quickly)

They entice unsteady souls

Entice is a figure to trap with bait; Peter was a fishermen

When I catch a fish it is not for the fish’s benefit

Their lust was insatiable

Related teaching from Paul:

2 Timothy 3:1–7 ESV

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

Also

2 Timothy 4:3–4 ESV

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

They would not just be engaging in the immorality; but teaching that it was the proper thing to be doing

Paul was identifying a more general set of problems; Peter, a bit more specifically—it was happening during church gatherings!

They prey upon the women in the church…and out into the circle of the church people

(caution that sometimes it’s a moral failure, sometimes it’s a long-term plan)

Long-time locals know one situation of a pastor “counselling” an unstable young woman

We know others

One person in authority in a local church telling a couple that living together was OK as long as they are committed

Sometimes it’s excused as “at least it’s not homosexual sin”

It’s all a rebellion against the pattern God set—the entire created order: one man, one woman

There is a reality among sexual offenders, normal ceases to be enough; abnormal, ceases to be enough, grossly perverted ceases to be enough

Beyond Balaam

A quick history lesson from Numbers…a good reason to not skip numbers; but read the whole thing

He was a prophet for profit

Short version: Balak, king of Moab hired Baalam to put a curse on Israel; plan backfired, and Balaam blessed Israel

The donkey was trying to protect Balaam from himself; God knew Balaam’s heart and what he would ultimately do

All in Numbers 22-24; HOWEVER…in chapter 25, we find Israel joining in Baal worship and engaging in gross immorality…then...

We find that in Num 31:16 (after the fact and after God severely judged Israel for the sin Balaam incited) cited for us in…(church @ Pergamum)

Revelation 2:14 ESV

But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.

His teaching was to undermine the authority of the true leaders of Israel (Moses and Aaron) as well as the sovereignty of God

…result intended was the destruction of nation of Israel

The false teachers of today are in rebellion against the sovereignty of God, His divine order and plan

…result intended is the destruction of the message of the Gospel; its removal from society

So, what?

We have the obligation to keep blasphemy out of the church; we fight that with knowledge

…take every opportunity to learn the Word of God and its application to our times

We have the obligation to keep to normalizing of sexual immorality out of the church

1 Corinthians 5:11 ESV

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

We need to protect the folks in our church

This should be the safest place for broken and abused people

The pattern of the lives should show of whom to be aware

1 Corinthians 6:9 ESV

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

This presents a problem

We must look at the pattern of the lives; was it past or current?

Requirements for deacons and elders (pastors) are so important

Repentance and forgiveness is available

Those Peter had in mind may have been at the point of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, thus beyond the point

1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

…and sometimes men and women fall; sometimes it’s prominent men and women

Big thing today is pornography for both men and women…even among pastors

A 2019 Barna poll revealed that 57% of pastors and 64% of youth pastors admit having struggled with porn

Suspect a link to pastors’s suicide rate?

Sexual abuse, PREDATORY ABUSE, is being discovered at an alarming rate in churches—even the SBC has been hit

People are more conscious of sexual abuse: a lingering glance, “accidental” touches, inappropriate comments or humor…if they come from leadership, there is a bigger problem

Sexual purity is the design of God; violating His plan, His pattern, is sin

Like other sin, it doesn’t belong in the church; it doesn’t belong in the leadership of the church

We are all sinners! But if we have been washed, sanctified, justified…by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, we have been saved from the wrath that would otherwise come our way

Boldness to be pure

Never to be in danger of blasphemy

Never to allow sexual sin to invade the church

Begins by continual preaching and teaching of the pure Word of God

Acceptance of the teaching

Trusting in the saving work of Christ

Followed by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit