The purpose of 2 Peter is to caution Christians regarding the false teachers that were present and encourage the people to develop in their faith and understanding of Christ.
Here in chapter two, Peter is telling them of the dangers of growing Christians. What applied to the early Jewish Christians still applies to Christians today.
False teachers who incessantly disseminated lies about Christ’s authority are described in 2 Peter 2:1-9. They exhort Christians to engage in sexual immorality.
They are experts in greed, they despise authority, they live in bold arrogance, and they blaspheme things that they do not comprehend. Peter assures them that these deceivers will face the consequences of their actions.
This includes leading people away from Christ and back into the sinful behaviors that they had started to avoid. God did not spare the wicked angels, the wicked people of Noah's time, or the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, and He will not spare these false teachers either.
Jesus had warned the disciples that deceitful teachers would appear (Matthew 24:11; Mark 13:22-23). These words had been said to Peter, and now he was witnessing their realization.
What Are the Dangers of False Prophets?
Similarly, as the false prophets had gone against the genuine prophets in the days of the Old Testament (Jeremiah 23:16-40 and 28:1-17), telling individuals what they wanted to hear, these false teachers perverted Christ’s lessons and the expressions of the apostles.
and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people (Matthew 24:11).
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time (Mark 13:22-23).
These false teachers downplayed the significance of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Some asserted that He was unable to be God, and others said that He could not have been a real man. They tolerated and even encouraged all forms of immoral behavior, particularly sexual immorality.
Today, we need to be careful not to listen to false teachers. God’s Word must be used to evaluate any book, tape, video series, or television message. Special meanings or interpretations that denigrate Christ or His work must be avoided.
Teachers should be paid by the students they teach or by the institutions where they teach. But these false teachers were trying to make more money by lying and telling people what they wanted to hear.
They were not as concerned with imparting the truth as they were with making money. Both Peter and Paul condemned dishonest and false teachers (1 Timothy 6:5).
Before we send money to anyone’s appeal, we ought to assess it cautiously. Is the educator or minister plainly serving God or advancing their own advantages? Will the money be put toward promoting a legitimate ministry, or will it just be used to pay for something else? (1 Timothy 6:5).
God would not spare the false teachers if He did not spare the fallen angels, people who lived before the flood, or the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Because He is so loving, some would have us believe that God will save everyone.
However, assuming that He will reverse the previous judgment is foolish. These three instances ought to serve as a clear warning to us that God passes judgment on sin and that unrepentant sinners cannot escape His judgment (Jude 1:6).
We can be saved from the temptations and trials of a wicked world in the same way that God saved Lot from Sodom. Although Lot did not abstain from sin, he put his faith in God and was spared when Sodom was destroyed (Genesis 19).
Additionally, since those who cause temptations and trials will be judged by God, we need not worry about whether justice will be served.
Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position (2 Peter 3:17).
Who Do We Serve?
So, the question “is the one whom you now serve able to deliver you?” means that we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:19-24).
When Jesus said that our first loyalty should be to things that never wear out, and cannot be stolen, used up, or worn out, He was contrasting heavenly values with earthly values.
We should not be fascinated by our possessions “because they might possess us.” This indicates that if our possessions are becoming too significant to us, we may need to make some sacrifices.
Jesus is urging us to make a choice that will enable us to live contentedly with the material things that we have because we have chosen something else that will last forever (1 John 2:15-16).
Some people believe that the only things that define us as “worldly” are our actions outside of ourselves, the people we interact with, the places we visit, and the activities we enjoy. Being worldly is also a problem inside of us because it starts in our hearts.
It is seen from three different angles. The “lust of the flesh” is the primary demeanor. This arises from our preoccupation with satisfying our physical desires. The “lust of the eyes” is the subsequent state.
This comes from being materialistic, wanting things, and collecting things we think we need. The “pride of life” is the third. This is the obsessive focus on our own significance and social standing.
The serpent enticed Eve in these same areas (Genesis 3:6). Similar tactics were employed by the devil when Jesus was taken into the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).
God, on the other hand, places a high value on self-control, generosity, and selfless service. It is possible to avoid the pleasures of this world while keeping our hearts full of worldly pleasures.
Similar to Jesus, it is also possible for a Christian to love and associate with nonbelievers while still adhering to the principles of God’s Kingdom. What principles do we hold most dear? Do our actions reflect the values of God or the values of the world?
There is a secular song that talks of bowing down before the one you serve, and that you will get what you deserve.
It speaks of money, “I will do anything for you, just tell me what you want me to, he wants it all, and that you cannot take that away from me.”
It goes on to talk about how money is not looking for a cure, it is not concerned about the sick among the pure, and it wants to go dancing on the backs of the bruised.
We can clearly see that the world today is more concerned about what it can get, how it wants to get it, what it will do to get it, what is most important, and that it cares more for what it can obtain now than for its eternal soul.
What Does This Mean?
My friends, what we may have in this world that is of material worth, we cannot take with us when we die. Humanity should be more concerned with where they will spend eternity, in heaven or in hell. Christians should be busy warning people of what is to come.
Friend, what is more important to you, what you have here on this earth, or what is waiting up in heaven for you?
For further reading:
Why Can’t We Serve Two Masters?
What Does the Bible Warn about False Prophets?
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