Having dealt with the Transfiguration experience, in which the Lord was gloriously transfigured before His three disciples (Peter, James, and John), and mentioning the fact that we have a sure word and prophecy, Peter will now alert us to the danger of false teachers and the impact of their damnable teachings. As believers, we must understand that a false teacher is not always a person who teaches false doctrine out of ignorance.
A false teacher is one who knows the truth, but who deliberately teaches lies that he might promote himself, get financial gain from his followers (II Peter 2:3, 14), and be able to live in sin to please himself (II Peter 2:10, 13-14, 18-19). He uses deceptive means (II Peter 2:1, 3) and twists the word of God to suit his fancies! A false teacher is very familiar with our vocabulary, but not our dictionary! It is not what a man says, but what he means by what he is saying!
II Peter 2:1-9 may be outlined as follows: I. The Deportment of False Teachers – II Peter 2:1-3; II. The False Teachers’ Destruction and the Deliverance of the Saints – II Peter 2:4-9.
I. The Deportment of False Teachers – II Peter 2:1-3
In verse 1, Peter informs us that these false teachers have made their insidious invasion among us, teaching their destructive heresies. A heresy is defined as a belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine. These Satan counterfeits’ heresies were denying the Sovereign Lord who bought them! The destructive heresies of the false teachers were leading people away from Christ and thus to spiritual ruin. You might be asking: “How can these false proclaimers (teachers) be among us, even being bought by the Lord, and be destined for destruction?” It is a paramount truth that the death of Christ is sufficient for all men; however, Christ’s death is only efficient for those who believe. These false proclaimers were professors, but not possessors!
In verses 2-3, these false teachers have many followers. Many people follow these false teachers in their pernicious (shameful) ways. These false teachers use feigned (counterfeit) words for their own mercenary interests. They fabricate stories in order to deceive others; however, God will bring judgment on these false teachers!
Having discussed I. The Deportment of False Teachers – II Peter 2:1-3, let us now observe II. The False Teachers’ Destruction and the Deliverance of the Saints – II Peter 2:4-9.
II. The False Teachers’ Destruction and the Deliverance of the Saints
– II Peter 2:4-9
Peter cites several historical occurrences of God’s judgment in order to confirm that God will judge false teachers and others who sin against Him and His Word.
In verse 4, the fallen angels who rebelled with Satan (Ezekiel 28:15) were punished by God and have been plunged into a place called “tartarus”, waiting on their ultimate confinement to the eternal lake of fire. Not only have some of the fallen angels been punished, but also during the antediluvian period, God wiped out that whole wicked civilization with the exception of eight souls (v. 5). In verse 6, God also brought destruction on Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness by fire.
Having cited three examples of God’s judgment (vv. 4-6), Peter points out that God is able to preserve and deliver His true saints (as with Noah and his family and Lot). The unjust will ultimately be punished in the lake of fire; however, God continues their punishment in this life (Romans 1:27b) and in hades after death (Luke 16:23).
Thank God that He preserves and will deliver us. Even in the midst of an apostate period, God can and will deliver, for Jude 24-25 says: “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and ever. Amen”
May God Bless!
Dr. Johnny Calvin Smith
