2 Peter Chapter 2 Pt. 6 False Professions Of Faith And Future Judgment

False teachers promise liberty but enslave people to heresy.

2 Peter 2:19  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. 

False teachers were spreading heresy. For example, Gnostics said you had to seek a secret, higher knowledge to go with scripture. 

They said that since your physical body was corrupt, it did not matter if you sinned or not.

False teaching like this is of course, sharply contradicted by the scriptures. God does care very much about how a Christian lives. 

He gave us more than 1,200 imperatives in the New Testament that instruct us about living for His glory.

We need this frame of reference, in order to grasp what Peter teaches as he brings chapter two to a close.

Avoid the pollution of false teachers by studying God's Word. 

2 Peter 2:20  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. 

The Holy Spirit moved Peter to speak directly to false teachers and the pernicious doctrines that they propagated. His words are very sobering.

These people made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ. They "escaped" the pollution that was in the world, through faith in Christ.

The word "pollution" is very interesting. In ancient times this word was used, to warn of those noxious effluvia oozing from persons infected with contagious and dangerous diseases. 

It was also referred to as a dead animal or human body which was decaying and leaking bodily fluids.  

It was used of stagnant, often putrid waters found in marshes, where infectious diseases thrive.

Thus, this word warned about any source of disease that can infect a healthy person, causing illness, inflicting damage and perhaps death. 

The power of the gospel helps us escape the world's pollution. 

2 Peter 1:3-4  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4)  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 

In the previous chapter, Peter extolled the glory of the gospel of Christ that delivers repentant sinners from the bondage of sin. 

It is through the power of the gospel that we can escape the vile corruption of sin and the downward pull of our fleshly lusts. 

This is why Peter was moved by God's Spirit to provide a very graphic picture of sin and how it spreads. 

The disease of sin infects us, manifesting itself in our vile actions. When sin is finished, it brings forth death, just like the word "pollutions" described (See James 1:13-15). 

Such heretical teachers made a false profession of faith in Christ, because they taught doctrine that led people to embrace sinful practices. 

Therefore, they became "entangled" in sin, which pictures fish being caught with a large net. 

Judgment will come to such false teachers, and it will be harsh judgment from God, because they were actively undermining what God wants to do in us. 

Harsh judgment awaits those who make a false profession of faith.

2 Peter 2:21  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 delivered unto them. 

It would be better for false teachers, if they had never heard the gospel, than to make a false profession of faith, followed by leading people astray with heresy.

Jesus taught that there are different levels of judgment.

Matthew 11:20-24  Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21)  Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22)  But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23)  And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24)  But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. 

Sinners will be judged according to the level of exposure each has had, to the gospel and the things of God. 

For example, a child who grew up in church, and was raised by Christian parents, grew up hearing the gospel and being exposed to it. 

A child in that circumstance, is responsible for the truth he or she was taught by their parents, and for the truth he or she heard in church.

However, if that child never repented and turned to Christ, he or she will be judged more severely. Why? Because they heard truth from God and are accountable for hearing it.

I have known young adults who were in church, raised in Christian homes, but who now live in rebellion against God. 

Jesus said that to whom much is given, much shall be required (See Luke 12:48).

A false profession of faith in Christ will soon be uncovered.

2 Peter 2:22  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. 

Peter referenced Proverbs 26:11, where the fool is compared to a dog that returns to consume his own vomit. It is a disgusting image that conveys the Father's disgust toward false teachers propagating heresy.

I once had a dog who did just that. She would eat her vomit and when freshly bathed, she would run outside and find feces to roll in.

Thus, Peter brings this chapter to a close with some vivid images of false professors, false teachers and those who lead God's people astray. 

The prophet Ezekiel wrote about these things, and although he has words of warning, he also held out an invitation from Jehovah, for sinners to repent and turn to Him for salvation. 

Jehovah does not derive pleasure from sinners who die. 

Ezekiel 18:23-24  Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? 24)  But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. 

Jehovah states very clearly that He would much rather that sinners repent, turn to God and live, rather than seeing them die in their sins.

Those who repent of their sin and turn to Jehovah, shall live. 

Eze 18:27-28  Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 28)  Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 

Eze 18:30-32  Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 31)  Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32)  For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. 

What Peter has taught us in this post is very relevant for Christianity today. There are many who profess faith in Christ, yet they do not live for God. 

Many professing Christians do not have any evidence of being regenerated by the Spirit of God. They use Christian liberty as a cloak for following fleshly lusts, instead of living for the glory of God.

May the Lord strengthen our faith and help us to love and serve Him more and more each day.

Bob