11-14-2021 – “Like Unreasoning Animals?”
Links from Our Website:
Bulletin (pdf)
Sermon Notes (pdf)
November Calendar (pdf)
YouTube Video Sermons
Upcoming Events
FBCW Website Calendar
November 14th, 2021
“Like Unreasoning Animals?”
2nd Peter 2:10b-22
Four weeks ago, before Nancy and I went to Idaho, I taught through 2Peter 2:1-10a, and so, before we continue in 2Peter 2, I would like to do a quick recap by reading that section of Scripture.
Read 2Peter 2:1-10a…
God condemns and pronounces eternal judgment upon those who are disobedient to Him, as Peter tells us, using three examples in that passage:
1. The angels who sinned against God and are now in dark prisons awaiting final judgment (as recorded in Genesis 6; Jude 6).
2. The wicked and corrupt world about 1700 years after creation, out of which only 8 people were sparred from drowning (as recorded n Genesis 6-8).
3. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were executed by fire and brimstone for their sexual perversions; only Lot, his wife, and two daughters were sparred from that destruction (as recorded in Genesis 18-19).
Today we pick up the narrative at 2Peter 2:10b. We will also look at several parallels between what Peter has written here and what Jude has also written.
Read 2Peter 2:10b-13a…
Peter provides a variety of descriptions for the false prophets and false teachers, unrighteous men who slander angelic beings (who are greater and more powerful then they), bringing judgment upon themselves.
In Jude 8-9 such men who revile angelic majesties (speaking evil of God’s mighty angels) are condemned, because not even Michael, the arch angel, brought slanderous accusations against the devil when disputing with him over the body of Moses.
This incident is not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture; but it would seem that God sent Michael to make sure Moses’ body was buried in a secret place (according to Deuteronomy 34:5-6), known only to God, perhaps so Satan couldn’t use Moses' body for some ungodly purpose that is not stated in the Scriptures.
Jude’s point is that if God’s mightiest angel, Michael, did not curse the devil when confronting him, but instead deferred to the ultimate and sovereign authority of God saying, “The Lord rebuke you!” then neither should any man, woman, or child of age, ever presume upon God’s power and authority in such situations.
Peter goes on to say (2Peter 2:12) that such men are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct to be captured and killed.
In Jude 10 false teachers who blaspheme in this way, are said to be like “unreasoning animals,” without the Spirit of God, unregenerate people. The arrogance of these men sets them against God, evidently blinded and captivated by the devil whom they willingly serve (cf. 2Corinthians 4:4).
Read 2Peter 2:13b-14…
Unlike most of those who practice debauchery and dissipation in the darkness; these false teachers openly engage in their perversions in the daylight, encouraging their followers to do the same. They flaunt immorality while influencing the spiritually weak to follow their example. They are liars, deceivers, and hypocrites who are cursed by God to an eternal hell.
Read 2Peter 2:15-16…
Balaam was a prophet of God who at first appeared to be faithful to God; but his desire for wealth and power overcame him.
We are told that Balak, king of Moab, hired Balaam to curse the Israelites, who had a mighty army that was feared by Balak. If you don’t know this story (found in Numbers 22-25) you should at least read Numbers 22:22-35, where tea re told that Balaam is riding his donkey to go and curse Israel. Three times the donkey saves Balaam from an angel by swerving off the path, only to be beaten by Balaam. Only the donkey sees the angel (with a sword in his hand). In the end, Balaam’s donkey speaks to him, deterring him from cursing Israel.
In Jude 11 we are told that unrighteous men “for pay, have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam,” meaning that these false teachers, consumed by their love for money and power like Balaam, are at odds with God.
Read 2Peter 2:17-19…
Peter uses two metaphors to illustrate the deception of false teachers:
1. They are like springs without water… A dry spring to a thirsty man is useless and possibly deadly; in the same way, false teachers a may give the appearance of being able to provide spiritual refreshment, they offer absolutely no relief for spiritual thirst.
2. They are like mists driven by a storm… Along the eastern side of the Mediterranean, sea breezes often bring in a misty fog that appears to be rain, but it lasts only a short time and doesn’t even wet the dry soil that badly needs water; in the same way, false teachers provide no refreshment for parched souls.
Peter then goes on to say that the blackness of hell awaits these men. Darkness is always associated with Satan and those who belong to him; while Light is always associated with God and those who belong to Him.
See Ephesians 5:6-12; Acts 26:15-18; Revelation 22:1-5.
False teachers are purveyors darkness. They are arrogant, deceptive, and easily mislead people who don’t know what the Bible teaches and therefore are fooled by the use of spiritual sounding words and showy performances.
The self-consumed and self-deceived false teachers of Peter’s day, led people astray using human felt needs and fleshly lusts to entice them, just like the false teachers of today: Joel Osteen, Beth Moore, Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, T.D. Jakes, Paula White, Sarah Young, Rob Bell, and many many more.
The so-called teachings of these hypocrites, is mostly aimed at the emotional, psychological, sexual, and intellectual felt needs of lonely, anxious, and unhappy people who seek some kind of peace, prosperity, and purpose apart from Christ.
Much of the time, the audiences of these false teachers is made up of unbelievers who are seeking to be better than the masses of unregenerate people
in the world, “those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,” those who hold no religious beliefs or practices, and don’t participate in any organized religious services held in Churches, Synagogues, or Mosques.
False teachers promise health, wealth, happiness, and empowerment; while remaining corrupt themselves: lying, deceiving, self-promoting, as they fleece those who sit under their godless teachings.
At the end of 2Peter 2:19, we are told, “that which overcomes a man will enslave him” (See Romans 6:14-23).
Read 2Peter 2:20-21…
The false teachers of Peter’s day didn’t necessarily openly reject or slander Jesus Christ; in fact, they may have even professed to be Christians; but they did not have a saving knowledge of God’s Son, and could not therefore, give any meaningful encouragement, enlightenment, or biblical instruction to their listeners; they could only offer temporary, superficial, and worldly platitudes, using popular expressions of human wisdom.
False teachers are not our brothers or sisters in Christ, and they can’t discern God’s Word, because they don’t belong to God
(John 8:43-44),
“Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
False teachers are part of this godless world, they are willful captives who can’t overcome it
(1John 5:4-5),
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
No matter how well they speak, or how popular they become, false teachers are polluted by the world; and although they have been exposed to the Truth of God, they knowingly turn away from it.
Peter says (2Peter 2:21),
“it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than
having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.”
Most false teachers were associated with the church, i.e., they were exposed to God’s Word, God’s Spirit, and God’s People; yet, they did not confess Christ as Lord, nor did they believe in Him as Savior, leaving them without any hope of eternal life.
See Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26-31.
1John 2:19,
“They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.”
These false teachers have been exposed to the goodness of God in Christ, but they treated it with contempt; rejecting the only way of salvation, they are destined to die, like unreasoning animals.
The men (and women) who masquerade as teachers, preachers, and pastors, although exposed to God’s holiness, they have adamantly rejected it. They are, “spiritual parasites” [John Mac], seeking to infect as many people as they can with their doctrines of demons, deceiving their audience to continue down the broad road to hell; just as the Scriptures declare.
1Timothy 4:1-2,
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron.”
2Timothy 4:3-4,
“For the time will come when [people] will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.”
Read 2Peter 2:22…
Peter closes this chapter of condemnation on false teachers with an analogy from
Proverbs 26:11,
“A dog returns to its own vomit,” then he adds, and “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”
During Peter’s day, dogs and pigs were considered detestable. Most dogs were wild, killing small animals to eat, also scavenging garbage. Pigs were considered despicable, the epitome of unclean animals, according to the Mosaic law.
False teachers are corrupt, condemned by God; for they are spiritually dead [unclean] like swine, and they are dangerous like wild dogs, therefore, they must be exposed, while God’s people must:
(Colossians 2:8-10),
“See to it that no one takes [us] captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.”
Jesus said (John 14:6),
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me,”
(John 8:31-32),
“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
Pastor Mike
<‘(((><