Thursday, October 6, 2011
What have the false teachers done, and what are they?
2 Pet 2:15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
2 Pet 2:16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.
2 Pet 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
Peter is describing the false teachers, as to what they have done, and what they are in themselves, and what will happen to them forever.
First of all, they have forsaken the right way. Jesus is the right way, and He is the only way to God, but, the false teachers have forsaken Him. And, they have gone astray etc. To forsake is to abandon. That's what they have done, they have abandoned the right way, and gone astray which is explained by Peter.
But, in forsaking the right way, there is the companion result or action of following the way of Balaam, who is described as someone who loved the wages of unrighteousness. In other words, it was for greed, and because of greed that he did what he did. And this is what the false teachers have done also. Jesus did say, a person is either with Him, or they are against Him. There is really no middle ground. It's one or the other. The false teachers are greedy, like Balaam was.
Balaam wound up being rebuked by the Lord through of all things, a donkey. God used this donkey, to actually speak to Balaam with the voice of a man, seeking to restrain the prophet. God was reaching out through this donkey, trying to keep Balaam from going in the wrong way. God was reaching out even to Balaam ( considering what he was doing ).
Peter goes on to describe the false prophets as being those who are "wells without water" In other words, one would expect to find something in a well, but, these false prophets really have nothing. They appear as if they do, but, they don't. They are actually being carried about by a tempest. Meaning, there is a power about them, but, it's a destructive power, a demonic and a lying power. The power of satan. They are in fact, big empty wind bags, with nothing to give.
The very last thing Peter says, is "to whom the gloom of darkness is reserved forever". This is their future. Hell will be a dark and a gloomy place. There will be a complete lack of light. This is all they will get for their ministry of lies. Very different from what is promised to those who have come to new life through faith in Jesus Christ. We have a bright eternal future with God, and with Christ, and with the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Angels, and all those who also have been saved by Jesus Christ.
A final thought about the entire letter of 2nd Peter. Peter is really trying to warn the believers, and to educate them, to protect them. The letter starts with a mention of God's grace, and as we will see at the end, it ends with the mention of God's grace. See 3:18. The worlds started with Grace, and it will end with Grace in Heaven.
Thus, may God's rich and abundant grace be yours today. He gives favor, it's His favor, the undeserved blessings of God. Thank You Father. In Jesus name. Amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier.
Peter is describing the false teachers, as to what they have done, and what they are in themselves, and what will happen to them forever.
First of all, they have forsaken the right way. Jesus is the right way, and He is the only way to God, but, the false teachers have forsaken Him. And, they have gone astray etc. To forsake is to abandon. That's what they have done, they have abandoned the right way, and gone astray which is explained by Peter.
But, in forsaking the right way, there is the companion result or action of following the way of Balaam, who is described as someone who loved the wages of unrighteousness. In other words, it was for greed, and because of greed that he did what he did. And this is what the false teachers have done also. Jesus did say, a person is either with Him, or they are against Him. There is really no middle ground. It's one or the other. The false teachers are greedy, like Balaam was.
Balaam wound up being rebuked by the Lord through of all things, a donkey. God used this donkey, to actually speak to Balaam with the voice of a man, seeking to restrain the prophet. God was reaching out through this donkey, trying to keep Balaam from going in the wrong way. God was reaching out even to Balaam ( considering what he was doing ).
Peter goes on to describe the false prophets as being those who are "wells without water" In other words, one would expect to find something in a well, but, these false prophets really have nothing. They appear as if they do, but, they don't. They are actually being carried about by a tempest. Meaning, there is a power about them, but, it's a destructive power, a demonic and a lying power. The power of satan. They are in fact, big empty wind bags, with nothing to give.
The very last thing Peter says, is "to whom the gloom of darkness is reserved forever". This is their future. Hell will be a dark and a gloomy place. There will be a complete lack of light. This is all they will get for their ministry of lies. Very different from what is promised to those who have come to new life through faith in Jesus Christ. We have a bright eternal future with God, and with Christ, and with the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Angels, and all those who also have been saved by Jesus Christ.
A final thought about the entire letter of 2nd Peter. Peter is really trying to warn the believers, and to educate them, to protect them. The letter starts with a mention of God's grace, and as we will see at the end, it ends with the mention of God's grace. See 3:18. The worlds started with Grace, and it will end with Grace in Heaven.
Thus, may God's rich and abundant grace be yours today. He gives favor, it's His favor, the undeserved blessings of God. Thank You Father. In Jesus name. Amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier.
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