Series:
2 Peter
Title: The
Lord Knoweth How
Text: 2
Peter 2: 9-12
Date:
May 20, 2012
Place:
SGBC, New Jersey
2 Peter 2: 9
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to
reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
The Spirit
of God warns believers about this day in which we live.
Amos 8:11: Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that
I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for
water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
As
religious as this world is and yet as ungodly as this world is—especially this
nation—we should always remember that God is fulfilling his purpose even with
false teachers and false religion in this world.
The Lord knoweth how!
As certainly
as the Lord knows how to deliver his elect out of temptation, God knows how to
reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. Comfort for the
believer is in knowing that our gracious God is fully in control.
Psalm 76: 10: Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee:
the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
Note: We may
not understand how he is doing so, but rest assured that even in the deceptions
of false teachers and false religion—God is bringing glory to his name. Were it not so, God would not permit it. Christ
himself accomplishes his purpose by turning Satan loose upon the nations of the
world (Revelation 20: 1-3). God sends men a strong delusion that they should
believe a lie—this one way God reserves them unto the day of judgment (2 Thess
2: 1-12)
Proposition: The children taught of God can identify false teachers—“my sheep hear my voice”, “a stranger they
will not follow” I am thankful the
verse reads, “if it were possible, they
would deceive the very elect.” By
God’s grace, it is not possible. The
Spirit of God gives us some characteristics in our text.
Divisions: 2 Peter 2: 10: But chiefly [false teachers is Peter’s subject here] 1) They point sinners to their flesh—v10: them that walk after the flesh in the
lust of uncleanness; 2) They despise God’s dominion, particularly Christ’s
Lordship over his church—v10:…and
despise government; 3) They are
not afraid to speak evil of those God has put in a place of honor—particularly
Christ’s preachers and his saints-kings and priests unto God—v10: Presumptuous are they,
selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
I. THEY ARE FLESHLY—UNREGENERATE—SO THEIR
MESSAGE POINTS SINNERS TO THEIR FLESH— v10: them that walk after the flesh in the
lust of uncleanness;
We want
to see God’s people brought to saving faith in Christ. But religion seeks men to build their
churches, to fill their treasuries, and so on.
They go after flesh like the Sodomites lusted after one another—v14
Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling
unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices;
Jude 1: 8: Likewise also these filthy dreamers
defile the flesh.
They
teach doctrines urging men to mind the things of the flesh—rather than
preaching Christ. Their doctrines have the
same relation to truth that dreams do to good sense. They defile those that
follow them with their:
2 Peter 2: 1:…damnable
heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them (their teaching denies the
very redemption Christ accomplished which they claim to have been redeemed by)
They teach
big man, and a little god
·
Salvation
by the will of man’s flesh—rather than by the power of God—A-Z.
·
Justification
by works of man’s flesh—rather than by Christ who declared God just and
Justifier
·
Sanctification
by works of man’s flesh rather than by election, redemption and the work of the
Spirit in the new birth.
·
They
teach evil is in things, not that the fleshly heart is desperately wicked!
·
Rewards
or Loss of Rewards based upon man’s works
THEY CLAIM TO PREACH REDEMPTION FROM ALL THIS
BONDAGE BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, BUT THEY DENY IT IN THEIR DOCTRINE AS WELL AS
THEIR PRACTICE.
Isaiah 51: 4: Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear
unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make
my judgment to rest for a light of the people.
“The law”, here, is the gospel proceeding
from Christ, from heavens Zion, to his people. This "judgment," is
the gospel--the declaration that judgment is accomplished for his people by the
death of his Son. His gospel rest for a light of the people—those he calls out.
In Romans
8: 1—we find that law—that
gospel—that judgment of God—that light that rests upon his people
Romans 8: 1: There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit. 3: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak
through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and
for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5: For they that are after the flesh do
mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the
Spirit. 6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace. 7: Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God: for it is not subject to the LAW OF GOD, neither indeed can be. 8:
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
“Them
that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness” are false teachers who cannot subject themselves to the law [the gospel] of God our Savior which declares that there is now no
condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus.
They will not submit to the truth that the believer is not under the law
but under grace, neither can they. Those
in the flesh cannot please God and the only way to please God is to walk by
faith, not by sight, by minding the things of the Spirit rather than the things
of the flesh.
Romans 8: 9: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the
Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not
the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his…12: Therefore, brethren, we are
debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:
but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit
of God, they are the sons of God.
What
“deeds of the flesh” has Paul been speaking about through this epistle? He has been speaking againt the old spirit of
bondage to the law.
Romans 8: 15: For ye have not received the spirit of
bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we
cry, Abba, Father.
Peter
says of those false teachers who here this that they speak evil…
2 Peter 2: 12: But these, as natural brute beasts, made
to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not;
and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
Colossians 2: 18: Let no man beguile you of your reward
in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things
which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the
body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together,
increaseth with the increase of God. 20 Wherefore
if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though
living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;)
after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23
Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility,
and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
The
pride and self-righteousness of man's heart makes sinners deny the completeness
of the fall of man and the completeness of reconciliation and salvation by
Christ alone. These two deceits of the
sin-dead heart attempt to bring man up and Christ down. If a man can do
something to save himself then the fall of man is not complete—man is brought
up. If man must do anything in addition to Christ’s work then Christ’s work is
not complete—Christ is brought down.
Yet, the
Holy Ghost reveals in the gospel in the heart of his elect, that they are made
righteous by the obedience of Christ and delivered by Christ as completely as
the condemnation of the elect of God was by the disobedience of Adam. "For
as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one
shall many be made righteous." (Rom. 5: 19.)
But by bringing
men back under bondage—these filthy dreamers defile men.
Galatians 5: 2: Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye
be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
2 Peter 2: 18: For when they speak great swelling words
of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much
wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19: While
they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for
of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions
of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they
are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them
than the beginning. 21 For it had been
better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they
have known it, to turn from the holy commandment [the gospel] delivered
unto them. 22 But it is happened unto
them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit
again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Haggai 2: 12 If
one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch
bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the
priests answered and said, No. 13 Then
said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these,
shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.
14 Then answered Haggai, and said, So is
this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is
every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.
Titus 1: 10 For
there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the
circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be
stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for
filthy lucre’s sake…. 15 Unto the pure
all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is
nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works
they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good
work reprobate.
Matthew
7: 22: Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works? 23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
II. THEY DESPISE GOD’S DOMINION, PARTICUALRY CHRIST’S
LORDSHIP--
v10:…and despise government
The
chief thing—the heart—of this despising government and dominion is the
despising of Christ who has taken the Kingship and Priesthood over his people
so that sinful men no longer can do what only he can.
Colossians 2: 13: And you, being dead in your sins and
the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven
you all trespasses; 14: Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was
against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to
his cross; 15: And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a
shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Christ
took away the power and authority of the Jewish church rulers, by abolishing
the ceremonial law; BUT men still want to be high priests—in protestant church
just like in the church of Rome.
Christ
is the Head of his church, the Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and
Redemption of his people—and ye are complete in him. We have but one thing to do—to support and preach
the finished work of Christ—in boldness and simplicity and clearly. Christ shall add to the church daily such as
should be saved and not one shall be lost.
Those he uses submit to him, look nowhere else for strength,
righteousness, or holiness and wait on him to do as he promises. He filleth all
in all those whom he elected, redeemed and calls out.
But all false prophets, and all who reject God’s
revelation of himself in the gospel, preach what they do, and practice what
they do, because the carnal heart can not bow to our Gospel and they despise
the fact all power in heaven in earth belongs to Christ—he is the believer’s
completion—not man.
Luke 19: 14:…We will not have this man to reign
over us.
III. THEY ARE NOT
AFRAID TO SPEAK EVIL OF GOD’S Glory—his dignities--v10:
Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of
dignities.
These dignities include all whom God places in an office
of honor—civil and ecclesiastical—but especially those true messengers of the
gospel which Christ has sent and his saints who he makes kings and priests unto
God by his grace.
Paul, before
he was converted, spoke evil of dignities.
1 Timothy 1: 13: Who was before a blasphemer, and a
persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it
ignorantly in unbelief.
But after
conversion he himself suffered it from false teachers.
2 Timothy 2: 9: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer,
even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
2 Peter 2: 10:
Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of
dignities. 11: Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not
railing accusation against them before the Lord.
Jude 1: 9: Yet Michael the archangel, when contending
with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him
a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
The name “Michael”
signifies “one who is God.” The word “Archangel” means “chief or
head of the angels.” Michael the Archangel is our Lord Jesus Christ who as our
God-man Mediator is, “Head of all principality and power” (Col. 2:10). We
find Jude’s example in Zechariah 3.
Zechariah 3: 1: And he shewed me Joshua the
high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his
right hand to resist him.
Joshua
is one of those dignities of the Lord—the high priest—a picture of Christ’s
redeemed.
The Angel of the Lord
standing by is our Advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God—called in
Jude—Michael the Archangel. He is called “the Angel of the Lord,” because he is Jehovah’s
Messenger, the Angel of the covenant
Satan is standing at Joshua’s right hand “to resist him”.
Joshua and his sons had broken the law of God because they had taken
heathen wives to themselves from among the women of Babylon (Ezra 10:18). Satan stands to accuse and dispute against
him using the law of Moses—the body of
Moses.
False
teachers operate like Satan does—not afraid to speak evil—to accuse--God’s
ambassadors or of his saints resurrecting the body Moses—the law of Moses. Jude says, “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil…durst
not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.” Now
read Zech 3: 2…
Zechariah 3: 2: And
the LORD said unto Satan, [the Angel of the
Lord, Michael the Archangel—Christ Jesus our Advocate, said to Satan] The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the
LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked
out of the fire?
This
is the Lord Jesus Christ making intercession for his elect as our Advocate.
1. Our Advocate intercedes, asking the Father
to rebuke our accuser, “The LORD rebuke
thee, Satan.”
1 John 2:1-2) My little children, these things write I
unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2) And he is the propitiation for
our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole
world.
2. Our
Advocate pleads electing grace-- the
LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee
Romans 8:33: Who shall lay any thing to the
charge of God's elect? It is God
that justifieth. 34: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather,
that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh
intercession for us.
3. Our Advocate pleads not our righteousness but his own--Is not this a brand plucked out of
the fire?— He is yet a sinner in himself, but his righteousness is of the
Lord.
Romans 4: 7:
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins
are covered. 8: Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
False teachers, like Satan, use the law of Moses and
accuse rather than begging our Advocate to intercede, rather than rejoicing in
mercy. But Christ’s Advocacy prevails for his redeemed children:
Zechariah
3: 3: Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
4 And he answered and spake unto those
that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto
him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will
clothe thee with change of raiment. 5: And I said, Let them set a fair mitre
upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with
garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
Application:
Here’s the lesson for us.
1. God is on his throne—he is using
even the wrath of false teachers and false religion to work his eternal
purpose—he knows how to deliver us and to reserve the unjust for judgment.
2. Rest in Christ he is our Advocate
with the Father—he shall plead our case—we are righteous in him, forgiven, and
no sin can be laid to our charge.
3. Never speak evil of or slander
anyone in authority, even when someone is wrong. Trust the Lord our God to do that which is
right.
Romans 12:19: Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give
place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay,
saith the Lord.
AMEN!