Lesson 24

Second Peter

Warning against dangers facing the Church

 

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)

 

Summary Observations:

1. Peter makes clear here the timeless facts which he applies to the last days of the church age.

a.  The Lord will rescue the godly.

b.  The Lord will keep/guard the unrighteous for punishment.

 

2. If God has shown Himself capable of judging temporally past apostasies (2:4-8) then He will do the same for every generation of the church age but especially in the last generation where these false teachers will arise.

 

3. The deliverance of the believers of the last generation of the church age will occur at the rapture.

 

4. In the examples Noah represented the advancing believer who is spiritually awake while Lot represents the reversionistic  believer who is asleep spiritually but both are rescued.   (1 Thes. 5:10)

 

5. The testing here is not referring to testing we experience in time as we noted in 1 Pet. Where we noted that the means of deliverance in the test was by application of BD, truth as you dealt with the test.

 

6. I take this phrase “to rescue the godly (Believer) out from testing” to be technical for the rapture occurring before the great tribulation.

- Reason being that there are only 2 places where ek is used with testing here and Rev 3:10 and both passages fit the tribulation timeframe.

 

7.  In the context the unrighteous refers to the unbelieving false teachers that Peter is warning about. They will be kept or guarded for punishment.

 

8. At death their soul and spirit leaves the body and will be kept in Hades or sheol to await the last judgment, the Great White Throne Judgment.  Rev 20:11-15

- this is a place of torment, punishment Luke 16:23,28

 

9. In 2 Pet 3:7 we will see that the heavens and the earth are also being kept for a day of judgment as are these ungodly men.

 

With 2:10-16 Peter gives us a more detailed description of these false teachers, the ones he prophesied about in 2:1.

 

and especially those who indulge the flesh

 

The picture painted by Peter here is that these false teachers not only are pursuing after their sin natures but are eager to follow its dictates or cravings.

 

 

in its corrupt desires and despise authority.

 

-  Point is they despise and reject the center of the apostolic teaching which is the authority of Christ whom they deny (vs:1).

 

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)

2:10a and especially the ones who proceed after the flesh eagerly with its corrupting lust (of the sin nature) and who continually despise authority.

 

Next Peter lists several characteristics of these false teachers.

Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties

 

 

they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties

 

 

-  no word for  angelic majesties

doxaj that is glories [pl.]. kjv  speak evil of dignitaries.

-  basic meaning brightness, splendor, radiance; and we usually think of it in terms of the essence and character of God.  1:3; 1:17

 

-  it also is used of the opinion and estimation in which one is held, repute;  in the N.T. it always of a good opinion; therefore reputation, praise, honor, glory.  Heb. 3:3;

 

- "glories"  they blaspheme not just angels but any and all who reflect glory, honor and a sound reputation, this would extend from God/F, the Son, angels, and any one who reflects the divine norms and standards in their life.

 

- These characteristics add up to one who does not honor or respect the glory of God.  But their day in coming.

 

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)

2:10a and especially the ones who proceed after the flesh eagerly with its corrupting lust (of the sin nature) and who continually despise authority. Daring, self willed (arrogant) they do not tremble when blaspheming glories, (the divine essence with emphasis on the person and work of Christ 2:1)

 

Observations:

1. Peter singles out here a category of unbelieving false teacher who are especially  the objects of God’s wrath.

 

2. One of the most blatant indications of a rejection of God’s Word is their eager pursuit of the sin nature’s lusts. Singled out here in context are sexual lust patterns.

- 2:2 “lasciviousness”  avse,lgeia  which speaks of unrestrained pattern of living, no restraints.  Most often used of normal perversion of sex, promiscuity, adultery.

- 2:7 “sensual conduct of unprincipled men” this is abnormal perversion, homosexuality.

 

3. Divine discipline is imminent when a nation reaches the stage where both are tolerated and promoted.

 

4. These false teachers promote promiscuity as a way to gain influence over others, they do so by distorting one’s freedom in Christ.

- Gal 5:1; 5:13

 

5. Point we must remember is that Jesus Christ's work on the cross was designed to set us free!

- Free from condemnation of spiritual death, eternal separation from God and free from slavery to the sin nature, Rom 8:1,  free from servitude to sin nature.

-  free from any and all systems of law performance living,  legalism.

 

6. They will boldly distort God’s Word in order to exploit their followers not only to gain control over them but also to satisfy their own sin nature lust pattern.

- those who are caught in the web of false teachers who have rejected God and His word are those who themselves have rejected the Word of God and are operating under their sin nature’s rulership.

 

7. Since they are daring and arrogant they fear no retribution from God as they blaspheme the glories, the essence and character of Christ having rejected the one who bought them.

- but they will get theirs, you can count on it

 

8. Characteristics of the false teachers noted so far:

a. Tied to the cults à having denied the master who bought them.

b. They are in it for the money à have an insatiable greed.

c. Approve and promote sexual promiscuity.

d. They despise bonafide authority.

e. They reject the supernatural, buy into evolution.

- they operate on the premise that they reject anything that the “educated” mind cannot comprehend.