False teachers have an empty message, but enslaving message

2 Peter 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.

2 Peter 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

2 Peter 2:20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.

 2 Peter 2:21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 

2 Peter 2:22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

Peter explains what the false teachers say, and calls it "great swelling words of emptiness" They speak as if they have some great truth, but in reality, it's empty, because it's without the truth of Jesus Christ. 

They have denied Him, and are putting forth ideas and teachings that God has not given them, but have come from their own hearts and minds. 

Their words Peter says, "allure through the lusts of the flesh, etc. ".  They have a certain attraction to what they are saying. Or they bait people would be a better way of saying it. They are enticing people, and they are doing it through the lusts of the flesh, rather then in and by the power of God's Holy Spirit, who is the author of God's Holy Word. They are enticing people and deceiving them. In short, they are encouraging sexual sins. And, this is what they are baiting people with, and enticing them into.

A few examples taking place today.......

Saying, it's ok to be involved with sexual matters, we see this today in the open promiscuity, fornication, people living together,  and the promotion of male homosexuality, and lesbianism in our society.  In fact at this time in the history of mankind, there are shows on t.v dedicated to all of the above, songs are written about illicit sex, and people parade in mass on a regular basis, have lobbying power in the halls of congress, and are changing the laws of our states to allow for same sex marriages, and the legalization within the school systems of many states to teach about the propriety and so called normalcy of homosexual/lesbian lifestyles.

 It's becoming, and is in some states already on the books, a crime to speak out about and against these lifestyles. Work places are now filled with political correct atmosphere's in this regard, and one could be fired if he or she says something against the gay lifestyle. Children in schools are in danger of temporary suspension for simply speaking their point of view on the subject, and more could be said .....

Back to the text in 2nd Peter 2.......

And, you will notice, that they are going after "those who have escaped from those that live in error" Or they are going after very vulnerable people. 

The false teachers are actually full of hot air, and that's about it. They make these promises to those who are listening, saying you will find true freedom if you follow what we are teaching you, but in fact, the teachers are slaves to corruption, they are prisoners to sin themselves. Peter adds that by what a person is overcome, they are in fact, also then brought into bondage by that which has overcome them. Paul talked about this in Rom 6, and 7. So, their promises are empty, and the teachers are only pretending to be what they are, and not actually that in reality. 

Continuing on, Peter further describes the victims of the false teachers. They have escaped he says the pollutions of the world, but are then getting pulled back into it, and if they do, the end will be worse for them, then the beginning. They will again become entangled, and not really set free. The rejection of the liberating truth in Jesus Christ, means for them deeper and worse corruption then they had in the past. It would have been better for them not to have known the truth.

Peter ends this section, and adds to his statement about "better for them not to etc, etc" with two illustrations of what has happened to the targets of the false teachers who listened to the false teaching, and took it to heart....here's what has happened to them, or here is what their lives are like.

One, a dog returns to his own vomit. Not a pleasant site, but something that happens. When a dog has to throw up, it's the getting rid of something that was not good for them. But, when a dog goes back and eats that again, it's the taking of something not good for them, back into their system. Same thing when a person turns away from sin, and then goes back to it. P.S, this is a proverb taken from Proverbs 26:11

Secondly, and this a proverb of sorts, was a common phrase among Jews of the 1st Century. A pig who has been cleaned up, returns back to wallowing in the mud. The point of this, and the other proverb are of course, went back to what they were to start with, or what they had been all along. ( See Matt 13, parable of the sower ) Dogs and pigs can be cleaned up, but, they can't be kept clean. Because it is there very nature to live like dogs and pigs.

So, at the end of the day as it were, this is a terrible truth as to the attack of satan into and upon the church. The false teachers bringing their false empty destructive message, alluring the vulnerable, and making their lives worse in the future then they were in the past.

Father, You are the Mighty God who saves His people from error, and establishes them in the truth of Jesus Christ. Protect Your church, give your pastors love, humility, courage, grace, peace, and power to simply oversee the flocks, and to teach Your Word clearly, the whole counsel of Your Word, and to warn, rescue and help keep the church free from these false and destructive teachers. In Jesus name.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

False Teachers, what have they done, and what are they.

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.

Not a pretty picture, but a true one

Not a pretty picture, but a true one......

2 Pet 2:10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,

Pet 2:11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

2 Pet 2:12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,

2 Pet 2:13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you,

2 Pet 2:14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.

Peter is explaining the ways of the Lord with respect to His judging the wicked. He tells us that God in particular will judge those who walk according to the flesh. ( by the way, God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but, does desire that all men come to repentance. But, He does and will also judge the wicked who do not turn to Him )

Several descriptions are given here about those who whom God will judge.

They walk after the flesh, or are governed by their sinful nature. That is, they indulge in the lust of polluting passions.

They despise, or scorn authority.

They are presumptuous, or daring, and they are self willed, and self loving creatures.

They have no fear when it comes to speaking evil of, or scoffing at dignitaries, or angels, the glorious ones.

( Angels who are greater then these that walk after their flesh, do not do what these sinful people do. They hold their tongue as it were, they do not bring a defaming charge against them before the Lord )

These wicked people are like natural brute beasts. Made to be captured and destroyed.

They are going to perish in their own destruction. That is, in destroying, they will surely be destroyed.

They are destined to receive punishment as a reward for their unrighteousness. They will suffer for the wrong they have done to others.

They have eyes full of adultery, harlotry, having an insatiable appetite for sin.

Their hearts are trained in lust and greed, they are children of a curse, or exposed to a curse.


Well, it's not a pretty picture to say the least, but it is a true one. All the ways of the Lord are righteous and true and just. God is the one who will judge these people, and no one is going to accuse God of wrongdoing when He does judge them. In fact, God will be praised for what He does.

Maybe a prayer at this point would be good, especially for any people you may know who fall into the category that Peter is describing. Lord, we simple do want to pray for these people we may know, and ask that Your grace and mercy would continue to be poured out towards them. May they come to know Your love, and Your Son Jesus Christ, and may they be delivered by You out of the corruption that is in the world through lust. In Jesus name, amen. 

The ways of the Lord. Judging and rescuing.

God judges, and, He delivers....

 2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;

 2 Peter 2:5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;

 2 Peter 2:6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;

2 Peter 2:7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked

2 Peter 2:8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)--

 2 Peter 2:9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

In having spoken about the fact of false teachers in Peter's day, and in our day, Peter now explains two more truths. One, God has and will judge the wicked, and two, He has and will deliver the righteous. 

These are the ways of the Lord. As you read through Scripture, this is what you see, ( these two truths ) 

First of all then, God does bring judgment on the wicked. He did it with the angels who sinned, this is believed to be a reference to angels who co-habitated with women. ( See Genesis 6 ) These angels were not spared by God when they sinned, but, they were cast into hell, and are there awaiting their final judgment from God.

Secondly, God did not spare the ancient world, or those people who lived during the time of Noah. Again, this is a reference to Genesis 6, where God describes the wickedness of man as being great, and that men were only sinning, in their imaginations and in their hearts. The Lord did deliver Noah, and his family. A total of 8 people including Noah. God used a world wide flood in this judgment. 

Thirdly, God brought judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah. They were extinguished, brought to ruin by God's fiery judgement upon them. And, they have become an example, to all who would choose to live the same kind of lifestyle, i.e the homosexual lifestyle. 

Finally, we are told of how the Lord delivered righteous Lot. He had become worn out and distressed by all that was going on around him. ( he was not a perfect man, no one is, but, he was called righteous by the Lord ) Lot saw each day what people were doing, and he heard the as well. It was vexing to him. 

Peter then concludes with......... 2 Peter 2:9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

That's the promise we have from God. It's the way of the Lord. He can and will deliver you, or rescue you out of temptation, and He will reserve the unjust person under punishment for the coming day of judgement.
The word deliver, or rescue, means to draw to one's self. This is what the Lord does. He will do it with you. He is your rescuer, your deliverer.

Here's what Paul said about God's delivering His children....it's a promise from Him........1Co 10:13* No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

You can see in red, "God is faithful" He is dependable, trustworthy etc.
I'm sure that Noah and Lot both had their moments of wondering where is the Lord, is He going to come and help me etc. He did.

Peter has much more to say about the false teachers. And, we will look at these things over the next two weeks.

But, may you find great comfort and encouragement from the Scriptures. Our God is a deliverer. 

Pastor Bob Grenier.