Peter: The Importance of People to God
Lesson 11

Lesson Eleven

Evil Discourages

Text: 2 Peter 2

Satan always has had his spokespeople among God's people. Their relationship with Satan is rarely obvious. The effectiveness of their influence is great. Just as there were false prophets among God's people in the past, there will be false teachers among God's people in Christianity. The key to awareness among those who want to be faithful to God is found in recognizing the motives of such people. They will successfully deceive many. They will cause people among and outside of God's people to speak harshly of God's ways.

The fact that wicked people existed among Christians should not come as a surprise to Peter's readers. In the ages when men wrote because God's Spirit moved them (2 Peter 1:19-21), there were false prophets (2 Peter 2:1). Also in the age when God has revealed Jesus as His own son and the Christ, there will be false teachers.

Those people in Peter's day introduced destructive teachings that denied Jesus. They were described as sensual people (those who existed for the physical "here and now") who were greedy (slick talkers who easily deceived). Of such people, Peter said they brought swift destruction on themselves, caused the truth to be maligned, exploited, and faced certain destruction. God is aware of what they do and why (their destruction is not ignored).

Three examples are used of God's awareness and power. The first focused on the fact that God did not spare those who persisted in wickedness. The second focused on the fact that God persisted in extending opportunity even as preparation for divine wrath continued. The third focused on the fact that God could rescue the righteous at the same moment He administered accountability to the evil.

In the first example, Peter declared God did not spare angels that sinned. God brought an end to their sinful activities. He also imprisoned them to hold them until their judgment. Peter does not mention what angels he spoke about or what their sinfulness was.

The second example is a reference to the flood. In the ancient world, God saved Noah and his family while God destroyed the wicked. However, God used Noah as a proclaimer of righteousness even as Noah prepared for the flood.

The third example was that of Sodom and Gomorrah. In this example, God both destroyed and rescued. He destroyed by reducing the cities of the wicked to ashes. He rescued Lot who was continually frustrated by the lawlessness of those people. While Lot was a mixture of both good and bad characteristics (as are most of us), Peter stressed Lot's good characteristics.

The examples exist to stress two facts about God. God knows how (a) to rescue the godly from trials and (b) to keep the unrighteous under punishment (accountable for their wickedness) until the judgment day. The examples exist as a warning to those who are tempted to live ungodly lives and as an encouragement to those who live godly lives.

The particular people Peter spoke of were what we might refer to as "out of control" people. Peter describes the people as daring (afraid of nothing), selfish, and disrespectful of everything. He compares them to unthinking animals who are suitable only for capture and death. They are people who act in ignorance, who rejoice in things that should make them ashamed, who focus only on physical pleasure, and who are captivated by greed.

Peter described such people in these ways: (1) They are like Balaam--so filled with greed they would listen to a donkey without realizing the donkey is talking. (2) They are springs without water, stormy mists. (3) They are arrogant, vain people who exist only for sensual satisfaction. (4) They promise freedom but only give slavery.

Please note these people were Christians! They would have been better off if they had never escaped evil defilement through Jesus Christ than to become again entangled and overcome by those defilements. Knowing Jesus Christ resulted in them being worse people! Peter compares them to dogs eating their own vomit (that which made them sick becomes the food) and cleaned sows returning to the mud hole (that which made them filthy becomes their pleasure). They value more what they were without Jesus Christ than what they could be with Jesus Christ.

The value God places on people is seen in two things: (1) Even when people became extremely wicked, God gave them opportunity to repent. Humans rarely, if ever, give any consideration to those who frustrate them to the core! (2) Even when the overwhelming majority were wicked, God rescued the righteous minority. God knows how to rescue and punish at the same moment!

For Thought and Discussion

  1. What has Satan always had?

  2. In the past, who were these people? Among Christians, who are these people?

  3. What key awareness do godly people have to maintain?

  4. What did those false people do in Peter's day?

  5. Peter used three examples of God's awareness and power. What was Peter's first example?

  6. What was Peter's second example?

  7. What was Peter's third example?

  8. What two things did Peter's examples stress about God?

  9. How does Peter describe the "out of control" people?

  10. To what does Peter compare these people?

  11. In what four ways does Peter describe these people? (What comparisons does he make?)

  12. These Christians would be better off if they had what?

  13. What effect did knowing Jesus Christ have on them?

  14. What comparison did Peter make to dogs and sows?

  15. In what two things is the value God places on people seen?


Link to Teacher's Guide Lesson 11

Copyright © 2007
David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ

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