Lesson 23
Second Peter
Warning against dangers
facing the Church
First the
evidence: For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist
The
result: there is disorder and every evil thing.
SUMMARY
1. This
wisdom is self condemning by what it produces as noted in vs:14 & 16.
2. Where
you see these manifestations of the sin nature you find social chaos.
- if
these sins reign in one's life confusion, disorder, instability also will
reign, you can count on it
3.
Selfish ambition and jealousy will always destroy ones spiritual life and the witness of the life for Christ.
4. The
phrase every vile practice
emphasizes the total worthlessness, being of no account, of the results
of such a mindset when it dominates.
5.
Clearly such wisdom then has no redeeming value or qualities as far as God is
concerned but man is often impressed.
But the
wisdom from above (in contrast to that just looked at in
vs:14-16 is first pure
THEN FOLLOWS THE OBSERVED RESULTS OF THIS
WISDOM -
6 characteristics
1. then peaceable [eirhnikoj] - peaceful,
what promotes peace
Peace w/o purity is not
a part of this wisdom. There is no peace
when the sin nature rules the life. Only
at best a pseudo peace.
*** God never has
or promotes peace at any price. The ends
justify the means.
2.
gentle - epieikhj
(not easily translated) - it signifies a
humble patience; steadfastness;
forbearance which is able to endure injustice, maltreatment w/o responding with
hatred or malice it involves trusting in God in spite of ill-treatment
received.
- used of
Jesus Christ in 2 Cor 10:1
- of the
believer on the job to maintain the correct MA whether he has a fair and gentle
boss or one who is unreasonable. 1 Pet 2:18
- also of
the believer in general - Titus 3:2
- of the
P/T specifically in 1 Tim 3:3
- idea
then is to be considerate, non-combative, relaxed under authority whether being
fairly or unjustly treated
3. reasonable -
eupeiqhj
(hapax) = easily persuaded, ready to
obey, compliant
- it is
the opposite of one who is stubborn and unyielding disobedient
- in
athletics = being coachable; in academics / classroom = being teachable;
here main idea is TEACHABLE
4. Full of mercy and good
fruits
- eleoj = mercy, compassion
towards those in distress which leads to practical help for the one with a need
- good fruits - agathoj
karpoj (pl) - good/beneficial
production
5. unwavering (adj. - hapax) = adiakritoj
fr: diakrinw
to discern - judge
- What unwavering really describes here
is the believer who:
- is not
carried off by every wind of BD - trendy teaching passed off as BD; feel good
teaching; some truth with psychobabble
- not
fooled by the wolves out there, the false teachers
- not
attempting to live their life on two standards
- not
double-souled or double-tongued
-
exhibiting a wisdom that acts consistently
-
therefore is predominately walking in the light
6. without
hypocrisy - anupokritoj
= good txln; this wisdom is free from all pretense; no working behind a mask -
nothing to hide
- idea is
that the Believer is genuine - no phony front, no veneer
It takes God working in us and through us for these
to become a reality and for God to be glorified by our lives.
Summary vs:17
1. This is what God expects from the believer
after salvation - A life that manifests these characteristics, these
qualities. Not a complete list by any
means.
2. The only basis for these to become a reality
is for each of us to have His wisdom in us coupled with the Holy Spirit's
empowering ministry and guidance in order to use it.
- They are not natural
or innate with man or man's wisdom.
3. It takes God working in us through His Word for these characteristics to
become a reality and for God to be glorified by our lives as they are reflected
in our day to day activities.
4. These characteristics are also to be
reflected in the L/C and they will not be produced them by the
- Rem: God's ways and God's thoughts are far
above us. Isa 55:8-9
5. Since His viewpoint is what we need, He has made available to us His revelation
and provided us instruction of that
revelation through the proper function of the L/C and the gift of P/T teaching
systematically through the Word.
Ultimately the source is
God's grace instructs us in the truth we need to know!
Titus 2:12-13
2 Pet 2:9 The conclusion
from the historical examples of 2:4-8 (The “then” clause)
then the
Lord knows
What Peter does here is to draw a conclusion from the
historical examples of the justice of God dealing with evil, the rise of false
teachers and apostasy and the historical deliverance of the righteous.
how to rescue the godly from
temptation, present
infinitive of r`u,omai
- which means to rescue, to
deliver from the edge of catastrophe;
Next is the who! the
godly euvsebh,j speaks of a manner of life lived reverently and
respectfully toward God devout, godly, here refers to believers
The Lord knows how to rescue or deliver the godly “from
temptation” evk out from peirasmoj is
used two ways;
(1) as God's examination of man, test, trial (1Pet 4.12);
no indication of result
(2) as enticement to sin, either from without or
within, temptation (Luk 4.13);
The Lord also knows how to
deal with the unrighteous.
and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for
the day of judgment,
- threw means
to keep under guard, to preserve for a purpose here for judgment
These unbelieving false
teachers are being guarded for punishment.
What about the day of judgment here? krisij is the word for judgment and
in view here is the GWTJ of unbelievers.
2:9 Then the Lord knows how to rescue the
godly (Believer) out from testing and to keep the unrighteous (UB) under
punishment for a day of judgment. (GWTJ)